"Guangzhou is a very competitive and open market. We can see the government works hard and efficiently to promote economic development, which is very helpful for our companies," said Eudes Fabre, North Asia CEO of Lagardère Travel Retail, when attending the 8th China Guangzhou International Investment Annual Conference and the first Global Unicorn CEO Conference and accepting GDToday's interview.
Held in Guangzhou on August 30, the conference attracted over 700 guests, including representatives from enterprises and institutions from 45 countries and regions and representatives from the Consulates General of foreign countries in Guangzhou.
During the conference, a total of 355 investors from 20 countries and regions around the world inked contracts with a total investment amount of 880 billion RMB, covering areas such as headquarters economy, artificial intelligence, digital economy, financial services, cold chain logistics, and cultural tourism.
355 investors from 20 countries and regions around the world inked contracts with a total investment amount of 880 billion RMB during the conference. (Provided to Newsgd.com)
Nine overseas sessions in US, Germany, Japan, and Singapore
With the theme of "Invest in Guangzhou, Invest in the Future," this year's conference featured one plenary session and 22 parallel sessions, as well as nine overseas sessions held in Silicon Valley of the US, Berlin in Germany, Tokyo in Japan, and Singapore.
At the conference, Guo Yonghang, the mayor of Guangzhou, pointed out that Guangzhou boasts international transportation hubs, a well-developed industrial ecology, and a strong innovation impetus. With high-quality and efficient government services, Guangzhou has become an ideal city for living and touring. The city will continue to deepen the reform of the business environment and advance high-level institutional opening-up to provide an ideal business environment for global investors.
The conference attracted representatives from enterprises and institutions from 45 countries and regions and representatives from the Consulates General of foreign countries in Guangzhou. (Provided to Newsgd.com)
Provided a good platform for innovation and transformation: AstraZeneca
Several executives from foreign enterprises were invited to attend the conference, including Executive Vice President and International and China President of AstraZeneca Leon Wang, Vice President of North Asia and Chairman of SABIC Li Lei, and Michael Gelchie, Chief Executive Officer of Louis Dreyfus Company. They all praised Guangzhou for its superior business environment, strong development resilience, and unique vitality. Believing that the city is a hot spot for investment, their companies and institutions will increase investment to achieve mutual benefits.
While accepting an exclusive interview with GDToday, Leon Wang indicated that the GBA has always been China's innovation highland, with good innovation genes and related supporting policies. As one of the leaders in the GBA, Guangzhou has a natural advantage in developing the biomedical industry. "At the same time, biomedicine is also a key strategic emerging industry in Huangpu District, providing us with a good platform for model innovation, industrial investment, and achievement transformation."
In 2020, AstraZeneca announced that it would establish its South China headquarters in Guangzhou. After nearly two years of construction, its South China Headquarter started operations in January 2022.
Try to leverage the Nansha FTZ and the innovation policies: LDC
Jerrity Chen, Head of the North Asia Region in Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC), expressed his amazement at the efficiency of the Nansha Port. "Guangzhou is a very good place to invest. We try to leverage the Nansha Free Trade Zone, as well as the innovation policies in the region, trying to solve some unmet demand of the modern trade, and trying to solve the pinpoint of our industries," Jerrity told GDToday.
LDC is a leading merchant and processor of agricultural goods, founded in 1851. The construction of the Fuling Food Industrial Park, a joint venture between Louis Dreyfus Company, Guangdong-based Donlink Group and Haid Group, officially started in Nansha district, Guangzhou in Guangdong province in March. With an investment of 7 billion RMB (101 million USD), the project is one of the largest investment projects of Louis Dreyfus in China.
Reporter: Nan, Fanny, Lynette (Intern)
Editor: Wing, Jerry
