Guangzhou has recently released a total of 43 measures to further improve its business environment and make the city the top choice for global companies to invest in.

The measures focus on ten key areas concerning business operation, such as business registration, tax payment, real estate registration, cross-border trade and intellectual property protection.

For instance, in 2019, the time needed to start up a business in Guangzhou will be reduced to 2.5 working days, and in 2020, it will be further reduced to 2 working days.

As regards to intellectual property protection, it aims to build an efficient intellectual property protection system to enhance judicial protection for enterprises.

According to the measures, Guangzhou is going to create two national pilot demonstration areas to improve its business environment.

One area is the national pilot zone for business environment reform and innovation in Huangpu district. This zone is mainly designed for converging with the investment and trade rules of Hong Kong and Macao, establishing an open regional innovation system and attracting global resources for innovation.

The other one is to develop the Nansha Area of the Guangdong Free Trade Zone into the national business environment reform zone and the cooperation demonstration zone for the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong, Macao to replicate its experience of exploring international business rules.

To build a leading smart government in Guangzhou is another important suggestion in the measures. Under the framework of Guangzhou digital government, it will enable the realisation of sharing of government data, the integration of approval items related to enterprises and the connection between government services and data.

With the help of smart government, Guangzhou will be able to simplify the process and combine online services with the offline by the end of June this year, and optimize the set up of service counters by the end of December.

According to the Guangzhou Development and Reform Commission, the most current business environment reform needs the cooperation of different departments and districts in the city. The improving business environment will provide better services for companies and residents, and it will help Guangzhou to participate in the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Reported by Will, Pu Enling

Edited by Simon