More than 1,000 entrepreneurs from home and abroad attended the 2017 Guangdong Entrepreneurs Conference held at Guangzhou Baiyun International Convention Center yesterday.
Themed “Promote the Spirit of Guangdong Entrepreneurs, Lead the Development of Innovation,” the conference, co-organized by the Guangdong government and the provincial political advisory body, aimed to provide a platform for Guangdong entrepreneurs to seek common development.
Guangdong Governor Ma Xingrui said in a speech that Guangdong entrepreneurs are the bellwethers of the province’s development, which is currently at the crucial stage of building a well-off society and keeping the momentum of socialist modernization.
Guangdong will drastically reduce the threshold of market access and transform the business environment, he said.
Hong Kong business magnate Li Ka-shing, who comes from Chaozhou in Guangdong, sent a congratulatory letter to the meeting, saying that the spirit of Guangdong entrepreneurs embodies the spirit of China.
Entrepreneurs giving speeches included Ma Huateng, founder and CEO of Shenzhen-based Tencent, Dong Mingzhu, chairwoman and CEO of Gree Electric Appliances Inc. of Zhuhai, Wang Chuanfu, chairman of Shenzhen-based BYD, Charles Yeung, chairman of Hong Kong-based Glorious Sun Enterprises Ltd., and Su Zhigang, chairman of Chimelong Group Co. Ltd.
Ma Huateng, founder and CEO of Shenzhen-based Tencent [Photo/Nanfang Daily]
“The spirit of Guangdong entrepreneurs is not an empty slogan; rather it is more like the TCP/IP protocol in the IT industry or the source code of a program, which is a cultural symbol or a standardized interface rooted in the corporate culture and pursuits of Guangdong enterprises,” said Ma.
He added that being practical, innovative, open-minded and grateful are the four characteristics of Guangdong entrepreneurs. And looking at the bigger picture, the spirit of Guangdong entrepreneurs will propel the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
Dong Mingzhu, chairwoman and CEO of Gree Electric Appliances Inc. of Zhuhai [Photo/Nanfang Daily]
“Guangdong is not the wealthiest place. Instead it is a place full of ideas,” said Dong. She pointed out that local enterprises should stick to innovation and blaze new trails for Made-in-China products to go global. “We didn’t have the core technology in the past, but now we are going global because we have certain technological advantages. I hope more Chinese brands will expand in overseas markets.”
Wang Chuanfu, chairman of Shenzhen-based BYD [Photo/Nanfang Daily]
Charles Yeung, chairman of Hong Kong-based Glorious Sun Enterprises Ltd. [Photo/Nanfang Daily]
Su Zhigang, chairman of Chimelong Group Co. Ltd. [Photo/Nanfang Daily]
The one-day meeting witnessed the signing of 23 major projects totaling 46.4 billion yuan (US$7.05 billion).
The Guangdong Entrepreneurs Summit held in the afternoon discussed the revitalization of Guangdong’s real economy.
Activities were also held for the investment promotion of China (Guangdong) Pilot Free Trade Zone, covering the Nansha area of Guangzhou, Qianhai & Shekou area of Shenzhen, and Hengqin area of Zhuhai.
Private businesses have become the backbone of Guangdong’s economy, contributing 53.4 percent of the provincial economy’s added value in 2015, according to a Guangzhou Daily report.
