Last year, the 2017 Fortune Global Forum was held in Guangzhou and its promo video selected 5 expats who work and live in Guangzhou including Marco Mario Gilardi to be a representative on behalf of the province. Marco is Italian and he officially joined Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd. (GAC) in November 2009. Now, nine years later, he is the CTO of GAC’s Research Institution.
Marco is not alone in Guangdong, there are many foreign experts contributing to innovation and entrepreneurship in the region with their passion and expertise.
According to data from State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs and sampling statistics of National Bureau of Statistics of China by the end of 2017, there were over 150,000 foreign experts working in Guangdong. This represents one sixth of the country’s total number of foreign workers.
In recent years, Guangdong has placed great importance on innovation-driven strategy and has implemented both the Work Permit System for Foreigners in China, and the policy of Foreigners’ Permanent Residence in China. It has provided a more solid platform for expats to build a career on in Guangdong.
Growing with the innovation team in Guangdong
Following his heart, Marco chose GAC, “I found (people with) passion and aspirations here”, he said.
At GAC Marco is in charge of the R&D of vehicle integration and vehicle chassis. On the eve of Guangzhou Asian Games in 2010, GAC launched the first version of their wholly self-developed vehicle the Trumpchi. “It is such a fantastic feeling to have completed the project and realized my automobile dream with my team in GAC,” Macro shared.
With 10 years in Guangzhou and nearly 8 years in GAC’s R&D Center, Marco is still working with boundless passion and creativity. At present, besides improving traditional petrol engine research, GAC also wants to become the pioneer of researching new energy motors. Thanks to his outstanding innovation and contribution, Marco was awarded both the 5th “ Guangzhou Friendship Award” and the 2014 Chinese government Friendship Award.
Intelligent Manufacturing in Guangdong is booming
Radu Gosav works in the office.
“Since I came to Guangdong, everything has been improving. No matter in government services, school, hospital, transportation or living environment, it has been getting better and better.” said Romanian Radu Gosav, who has lived in Guangdong for 17 years. He has witnessed the transformation of Guangdong.
Due to his “following the electronics industry”, Radu Gosav first arrived here in 2001 and joined TÜV SÜD two years later. As director of the EMC department for TÜV SÜD Greater China, Radu's role is to oversee testing on the quality of products ranging from consumer electronic products to automotive sub-assemblies and components.
Over the past 17 years in Guangdong, Radu has experienced and witnessed the transformation and upgrade of "Guangdong Manufacturing".
“I have to say that throughout the last fifteen years, what I notice is that the Chinese manufacturers have improved the quality every year, ” said Radu. Not only the product quality is improving, technological industries are also on the rise. The province’s innovative technology enterprises are increasingly going global. For instance, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and autonomous ships are both areas where Guangdong is leading the world.
Guangdong offers support for innovation and research
Yousif in the presentation of his postdoctoral research.
“All the things you need for the (research), Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences has and makes it available to you,” said Ahmed Mohamed Fouad Yousif.
Yousif is one of four Egyptian postdoctoral researchers in the Institute of Animal Science, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences. The hot weather in Guangdong means animals here often suffer heat stress due to high ambient temperatures. Yousif’s research aims to alleviate the negative effect of heat stress, and he is particularly focused on the laying habits of ducks.
Yousif came to Guangzhou in 2015. GDAAS has offered tremendously practical support. Before coming to Guangdong, he was assisted by a team at GDAAS handling the whole procedure of registration and applying for visas. Furthermore, GDAAS arranged accommodation and a subsidy for him and his family. As such, Yousif can focus on research.
Over past years Guangdong has optimized talent service stragegy. Technology, enterprise and other areas have seen considerable development. International exchange has become increasingly frequent. Guangdong’s provincial government will further strengthen its support for foreign talent and innovative business in the province.
David Gamarra - the Consul-General of Peru in Guangzhou:
Guangdong – Hong Kong – Macao Greater Bay Area attracts more global enterprises and top talent
David Gamarra, the Consul General of Peru in Guangzhou accepted the exclusive interview from Newsgd.com.
Thanks to government initiatives Guangdong has recently implemented numerous policies streamlining the process of applying residential permits, visas, work permit and other documents for overseas talent.
Mr. Gamarra highly praised Guangdong’s policies to attract high-end talent. “I think Guangdong has everything it needs to attract talented individuals from all over the world. The government should advertise Guangdong to the world better, so that more and more people get to know about this prosperous area.”
Mr. Gamarra argued that “The Greater Bay Area offers many opportunities for economic and technological development. It is composed of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao. This is one of the world’s most dynamic areas.” In his opinion, the connection of these three areas will accelerate the integrated development of the Greater Bay Area and also contribute to China’s overall development.
Free trade agreements between China and Peru in effect since 2010, have enhanced the trade between Guangdong and Peru. Over the years, Guangdong has witnessed rapid growth in its import and export trade with Peru. He reckoned that cooperation between Peru and Guangdong within the Greater Bay Area is likely to increase in future.
Big events in reform
1.Foreigner Work Permit System
Started from November 2016, Guangdong has comprehensively implemented Foreigner Work Permit System to solve the problems of unclear definition of permit in administration, muti-administration of foreigners work in Guangdong, etc.
2.16 items of Entry and Exit Policies on the construction of Guangdong Free Trade Zone and innovation-driven development
In August 2016, Guangdong carried out 16 items of Entry and Exit Policies on the construction of Guangdong FTZ and innovation-driven development to support talents to start innovative business in the province.
3.Guangdong’s ten measures on foreign investment and revised edition
From August 2017, foreign research institutions have been encouraged to participate in the construction of public service platform and government technology projects in Guangdong. Implement incentive measures about the government procurement for those products of foreign-invested enterprises that are approved and included into the list of provincially innovative products.
Reported by Peng Lin, Hu Nan, Wei Shen, Fan Xiaowen
Edited by Will, Simon
Directed by Xie Sijia, Lu Yi, Zhang Ying
每年来粤工作外国专家超15万人次
见证“广东制造”向“广东智造”转型
去年《财富》全球论坛在广州举行，宣传片《我在广州等你》选取了5位在广州工作、生活的外国人，马可·马里奥·吉拉尔迪（Marco Mario Gilardi）是宣传片的形象代表之一。来自意大利的马可是广汽研究院首席技术官，2009年11月正式加盟广汽。
像马可这样的外国人才在广东有很多，用自己的热情与专业知识为广东的创新创业发展贡献力量。
据国家外专局和国家统计局抽样统计，截至2017年底，每年来粤工作的境外专家超过15万人次，占全国六分之一，居全国前列。
近年来，广东省大力推进创新驱动战略，实施外国人来华工作许可制度、外国人永久居留等政策，为外国人在粤创新创业提供便利，让他们找到更广阔的事业平台。
在广东与创新团队一起成长
马可在加盟广汽之前，已经在菲亚特按部就班的工作了29年。可他觉得自己需要有一个新的挑战，听从自己的内心选择来到了广汽，“在这里找到了激情和目标”。
“我希望有一个从零开始的机会，翻开新的篇章，但也可以说不是从零开始，因为我以前也有了很好的积累。”马可带着他的激情和技术来到了广汽。
在开发广汽自主品牌汽车中，马可主要负责整车集成和车辆底盘两个环节的研发。为了完成外界觉得几乎不可能的任务——在2010年广州举办的亚运会上，让来宾坐上广汽自主品牌汽车。马可和团队周末不休息地研发，还要到外地进行实验。
在广州亚运会前夕，广汽集团首款自主品牌轿车“传祺”面世。“在这里，我和团队们一起完成成长，完成汽车梦想，这种感觉实在太好了。”马可激动地告诉记者。
来广州快10年，在广汽研究院的快8年，马可的激情与创意仍然无限。如今，广汽除了把传统型汽车研发必须做得更好，还在新能源汽车研发领域要冲在前面。马可的创新与贡献，获得了第五届“羊城友谊奖”，并获得2014年度中国政府友谊奖获得者。
广东“智造”越来越好
“自从我来到广东，这里几乎一切都在改善。不管是政府服务、学校、医院、交通，还是生活环境，都在变得越来越好。”来自罗马尼亚的戈萨夫·克里斯蒂安觉得广东越来越宜居了。如今，戈萨夫在广东住了17年，他觉得广东见到的一切都在变好。
2001年，戈萨夫因为蓬勃发展的电子产业来到广东，两年后加入南德意志集团成为一名电子设备工程师，负责电子电气产品的质量检测，检测中国制造商出口欧美的产品的质量是否符合国际标准。
近年，我省从“广东制造”逐渐向“广东智造”转型，戈萨夫就是广东制造业转型升级的亲历者和见证者。
“我注意到中国生产商不断提升产品的质量”，戈萨夫说，由于中国生产商提高了对产品的质量和标准的要求，他所在企业的生意一年比一年好。
戈萨夫表示，不仅仅是广东的产品质量提升，科技产业也在进步。越来越多的广东科技创新企业走上国际舞台，比如广东的无人机、无人船，都达到了世界领先的水平。“我会很关注广东科技以及经济发展的方向，以便确定我们公司的发展方向，很高兴看到广东走在科技产业转型的前列。”
支持外国人在粤创新研究
“我研究需要的条件，广东农业科学院应有尽有。”采访中，艾哈迈德·尤西夫（Ahmed Mohamed Fouad Yousif）向记者表示，广东农业科学院动物科学研究所是研究蛋鸭的理想圣地。
尤西夫来自埃及，是广东农业科学院动物科学研究所在站的四名埃及博士后之一。广东的高温天气对动物带来不良影响，尤西夫的研究正好是如何减轻高温对蛋鸭繁育等负面影响。2015年，尤西夫就到了广州致力于学术创新研究。
在研究期间，尤西夫以第一作者发表了10篇学术论文，其中有7篇被《科学引文索引》下的刊物收录，如《英国家禽科学》。广东农业科学院则为他提供了很多实质性的帮助。在来广东之前，相关团队帮助他处理了注册、签证等整个申请程序；在生活方面，农科院给尤西夫和他的家人提供了的住宿和补贴，生活上的便利让他更加专注于研究。
近年来，广东不断优化人才服务，技术、企业等都得到发展与创新，国际合作交流日益频繁。接下来，为更好地服务来外国人才来粤创新创业，广东还将进一步扩大对外国人才的支持力度。
秘鲁驻广州总领事戴维·加马拉（David Gamarra）：粤港澳大湾区吸引更多全球企业和高端人才”
近年，广东先后实施了“外资十条”、服务粤港澳大湾区建设18项举措等，为外国人才办理居留、口岸签证、工作许可证等提供便利。
“我认为广东已经足够好了，它拥有吸引来自世界各地的人才所需要的一切。政府应该更好地向世界宣传和广播广东，让越来越多的人了解这个繁荣的地区。”戴维·加马拉为广东“点赞”。
加马拉认为，粤港澳大湾区是一个充满活力的区域，为经济和技术发展提供了许多机会。大湾区由广东、香港和澳门组成，这三个区域的连接将加速大湾区的一体化发展，也有助于中国的整体发展。“我相信，大湾区将吸引更多创新的全球企业和高端人才。”
加马拉说，他相信在大湾区里秘鲁和广东之间可能会有更多的合作。自2010年以来，中国和秘鲁之间生效的自由贸易协定促进了广东和秘鲁之间的贸易往来。近年来，许多秘鲁商人来到广东，两地进出口贸易正快速增长。
改革大事记
1、外国人来华工作许可制度
2016年11月起，广东全面实施外国人来华工作许可制度，实现了“六个统一”，改变了过去工作中的两类行政许可界定模糊、在粤外国人工作交叉管理等情况。
2、支持广东自贸区建设和创新驱动发展16项出入境政策
2016年8月，广东开始实施公安部支持广东自贸区建设和创新驱动发展16项出入境政策措施，支持人才在粤创新创业。
3、“外资十条”及其修订版
2017年8月起，支持外资研发机构参与广东研发公共服务平台建设和政府科技计划项目。对纳入省创新产品清单的外商投资企业产品，实行政府采购鼓励措施。
