Recently, the 2021 Guangdong Province Business Environment Evaluation Report was released, showing Guangzhou and Shenzhen are leading in business environment development in the province, the two cities are also listed in China's pilot programs on the business environment.

(Photo / Nanfang Daily)

In 2021, the Guangdong Provincial Development and Reform Commission took the first business environment evaluation for the performances (in 2020) of 21 cities in the province.

Learning from the evaluation index systems of the World Bank and China, Guangdong's evaluation has set up a total of 19 first-level indicators and 88 second-level indicators covering business operation, paying taxes, government procurement, obtaining credit and many other aspects.

The evaluation has also reviewed 40 typical business environment construction experiences and innovative measures such as 5G smart guidance and the "Greater Bay Area combined port" program.

Guangdong has formed a number of "Guangdong samples" in key indicator areas such as starting enterprises, applying construction permits, obtaining electricity, and paying taxes, said Zhu Wei, party group member and deputy director general of Guangdong Provincial Development and Reform Commission.

For instance, now the whole process of starting business in Guangdong has been "digitized" (all applications can be completed online), and the average operation time of starting business in the province is only one working day.

In addition, more than 90% of the tax-relevant businesses are handled online, and the average operation time for export tax rebates is shortened to 5 working days at most.

In general, Guangdong has seen improving business environments of each city, and the gap between cities has narrowed.

According to Zhu, in the future Guangdong will launch a three-year action plan for improving business environment, and support Guangzhou, Shenzhen to participate in the country’s pilot programs on the business environment. Also, all cities are encouraged to explore more original and differentiated reform measures.

Author: Will

Editor: Olivia, Jerry