The Dream Factory of China

More than 300 company representatives attended a seminar on Qianhai’s business environment and the supporting policies attracting Qianhai-registered companies to relocate their business operations to the free trade area at Qianhai Kerry Center on Dec. 17.

Zhang Feimeng, vice director of the Qianhai Cooperation Zone Authority, told the seminar that Qianhai is now capable of delivering more precise services to the enterprises in the free trade area following its fast development, especially in infrastructure construction, over the past few years. She said Qianhai offers a fair and transparent business environment which is based on the rule of law.

Huang Xiaokang, chairman of Kerry Properties Ltd., said at the seminar that as part of the first batches of Hong Kong-funded companies to invest in Qianhai, he had witnessed the significant changes Qianhai has undergone over the years.

Many attendees spoke highly of the seminar and said they became more confident with their future in Qianhai.

Currently, 13 property projects offering a total floor space of 1.04 million square meters have been put into use, and some 31 urban roads, including Linhai Boulevard, have been constructed, according to Zhang Fan, assistant to director of the new urban center office. With the operation of the extensions of Metro lines 5 and 9, four Metro lines are accessible in Qianhai and more bus routes are also in service across the free trade area, making traffic in Qianhai easier and more convenient. Other landmarks such as Qianhai International Conference Center are under construction.

In addition to infrastructure, the Qianhai authority has also made extra efforts in formulating preferential policies and incentives to boost the development of the enterprises in the free trade area, said Zhou Yaorong, director of the industry promotion office.

Subsidies for office space and other supportive policies for Qianhai-headquartered enterprises, financial companies and high-tech startups have been in place to address the difficulties faced by the companies. Living and commute allowances for youths from Hong Kong and Macao are also offered to attract talents to work in Qianhai.

The three-year action plan to attract enterprises to return has brought a number of large enterprises and unicorns to settle in Qianhai since its release in July.

The Qianhai Kerry Center, said to be a benchmark project of Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong cooperation, is located on Qianwan Road 1 in the Qianhai area. The center, covering an area of 68,800 square meters with unobstructed seafront views, is designed for a mixed-use development, accommodating office, apartment, hotels and commercial space. It is expected to be put into use early next year.

The Kerry center is a good example of Qianhai’s effort to build a new green urban center with green architecture. Hanging gardens are integrated into the high-rises with unique lattice frame facades.