Recently, the Information Office of the People's Government of Fujian Province hosted a series of press conferences under the theme "Creating a World-Class Business Environment to Promote High-Quality Development". These conferences highlighted Fujian's initiatives in fostering an international business climate and advancing high-quality commercial growth.

According to these conferences, Fujian's overall customs clearance efficiency for imports and exports remains among the top in coastal provinces and cities. In 2024, the province introduced and implemented 102 new projects, each with a total investment exceeding RMB 1 billion. The "Invest in Fujian" brand was promoted through over 2,500 events aimed at attracting overseas Chinese investors. Throughout the year, the number of newly established foreign-invested enterprises increased by 9.7%. By the end of 2024, more than 75,000 foreign-invested enterprises had been established in Fujian, with actual foreign investment exceeding RMB 150 billion, reflecting a continuously improving investment environment.

Through the introduction of 15 measures aimed at promoting high-quality development in foreign trade, Fujian implemented initiatives such as "Fujian Products to the World" and "Supporting the Growth of Ten Thousand Enterprises" to help enterprises expand their markets and boost confidence. In 2024, Fujian achieved a new historical high in import and export volume, with sustained growth in trade with major partners such as ASEAN, the United States, Japan, and other RCEP member countries. The implementation of 12 measures to promote innovation in cross-border e-commerce injected new momentum into the development of foreign trade, resulting in a 17.8% increase in cross-border e-commerce exports in 2024. Xiamen was recognized as one of China's "Top Ten" cross-border e-commerce comprehensive pilot areas. Furthermore, by strengthening its industrial advantages, Fujian had 4 industrial parks selected as national-level foreign trade and economic demonstration bases, ranking first in the country.

The "Invest in Fujian" brand is gaining international traction. In recent years, Fujian Province has implemented "Silk Road Investment" support policies to foster the integrated development of foreign economic cooperation, trade, investment, expertise, and outsourcing. These policies are designed to help enterprises safely and systematically "go global", enabling them to participate in international industrial and supply chain collaborations actively. Fujian has established or reached agreements for 15 new sister-city partnerships and, for 5 consecutive years, has led the nation in the number of laborers dispatched abroad. The construction of the China-Indonesia "Two Countries, Twin Parks" initiative is progressing rapidly, leading to 69 economic and trade cooperation projects, with investment and trade agreements totaling nearly RMB 90 billion. The first permanent BRICS local representative office has been inaugurated in Xiamen, and the BRICS Science and Innovation Fund has been officially launched.

Outstanding achievements in opening up to the global market are closely tied to efficient channels for external engagement. Last year, Fujian further enhanced its port infrastructure, developing a highly efficient and interconnected "major hub". Fuzhou and Xiamen have been approved as pilot cities for the development of national smart ports, with overall customs clearance efficiency for imports and exports ranking among the top in coastal provinces and cities. The Fujian-Guangdong-Hong Kong "Single E-Lock Scheme" rapid clearance model has been launched, allowing a single lock to be used interchangeably between Fuzhou and Xiamen, thereby facilitating regional coordination and smooth logistics. The "Silk Road Maritime" alliance now boasts 343 members, with 10 passenger routes and 13 cargo routes added or resumed in 2024. The throughput of foreign trade cargo at all provincial maritime ports increased by 4%, while the inbound and outbound cargo volume at aviation ports rose by 36.6%.

The stay and residence for foreign nationals have become more convenient, leading to a 51.2% increase in inbound and outbound travelers across the province in 2024.

Last year, Fujian Province introduced 25 new innovative measures, including 6 specifically tailored for Taiwan Province. Furthermore, 24 innovative practice cases were introduced, and 28 institutional innovation achievements were replicated and promoted throughout the province. Innovative measures such as "Certificate Processing Without Halting Ship Operations" and "Cross-Strait Joint Training Program for Maritime Talents" have been implemented as national firsts.

In 2025, Fujian will prioritize key investment sources such as ASEAN, Hong Kong, and Macau, with a focus on strengthening key industrial chains within its counties. The province plans to host a series of "Invest in Fujian" promotional events for global investors. By fully utilizing platforms like the Overseas Chinese Talent Conference for Development and the World Maritime Equipment Conference, Fujian aims to explore diverse modes of investment promotion, including platform-based, fund-based, and alumni-based strategies. The province will carry out targeted promotional activities to attract businesses through existing businesses and overseas Chinese through their networks. The objective is to attract more Fortune 500 companies, global industry leaders, and enterprises involved in critical links of the industrial and supply chains to establish a presence in Fujian.

The Department of Commerce of Fujian Province has announced plans to enhance special actions such as "Delivering Policies to Stabilize Confidence" and "Promoting Capital Increase and Capacity Expansion". These efforts aim to support foreign enterprises in reinvesting profits, scaling up operations, and extending the industrial chain. It also encourages foreign investment to expand its presence in Fujian through methods like debt-to-equity swaps and capital reserve conversions.

Translated by Fujian Investment Promotion Center