The 2023 World Guangdong Entrepreneurs Convention kicked off in Guangzhou on September 22, aiming to promote the province's business opportunities and foster exchanges and cooperation between Guangdong entrepreneurs and global partners.
2023 World Guangdong Entrepreneurs Convention (Photo provided to GDToday)
About 800 participants, including entrepreneurs, leaders of industry associations, business representatives, and scholars as well as officials of foreign consulates general in Guangzhou attended the event.
Huang Kunming, Party Chief of Guangdong, addressed that he hopes Guangdong entrepreneurs around the world join in the province's development to modernization, invest in Guangdong, and introduce international business to Guangdong.
The list of Guangdong's Top 100 Private Enterprises was released by the Guangdong Federation of Industry & Commerce at the convention, announcing private enterprises with annual revenue of over 12.313 billion RMB in Guangdong.
Among the Guangdong Top 100 Private Enterprises, 4 enterprises have annual revenue exceeding 400 billion RMB in 2022, 15 enterprises exceeding 100 billion RMB, and 64 enterprises exceeding 20 billion RMB; 38 are located in Shenzhen, 25 in Guangzhou, and 17 in Foshan; 52 are in the manufacturing industry.
"Guangdong has the biggest population of overseas Chinese. Most Thai Chinese have their ancestral home in Guangdong. The kinship makes overseas Guangdong entrepreneurs tend to invest back in their hometown," said Lin Chuqin, President of the Thai-Chinese Chamber of Commerce.
Lin believed that his hometown's development brings opportunities to Guangdong entrepreneurs. "At the beginning of this year, Guangdong launched the Overseas Chinese Assisting High-Quality Development Initiative, which has received a positive response from overseas Chinese businessmen. We are pleased to see that the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area has become one of the most open and economically vibrant regions in China."
The Thai-Chinese Chamber of Commerce was established in 1910. Lin introduced that, to date, it has connected with 74 Thai local business associations of various trades and industries.
"It's really amazing how Guangdong entrepreneurs remember home," said Judyth Nsababera, Consul General of the Republic of Uganda in Guangzhou. She considers it valuable to learn from overseas Guangdong entrepreneurs as they always remember their hometown and commit to the hometown's development. In addition, she listed technology and tourism as important areas where Uganda and China will have more exchanges.
"A large number of Guangdong's products have been exported to Laos and the partnership is now upgraded to industrial cooperation," said Yao Bin, Chairman of the Chinese (Laos) Chamber of Commerce.
Yao elaborated that his company has joined hands with China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN) and China Southern Power Grid (CSG) to invest in Laos and established a new energy company, covering photovoltaics, wind power, and biopower energy. He is confident that more industrial parks will be constructed in Laos for further industrial cooperation.
"Arab consortiums have been optimistic about China's development in recent years. They hope to have financial cooperation with Chinese enterprises and join hands to promote innovation," said Zhang Qinwei, Chairman of Guangdong Emirates Business Union.
He elaborated that the United Arab Emirates plans to develop smart cities, which will bring opportunities to Guangdong entrepreneurs in the fields of new energy and intelligent manufacturing.
The event is organized by the People's Government of Guangdong Province, the Guangdong Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and the All-China Federation of Industry of Commerce (CFIC).
Reporter丨Nina, Nico(intern)
Video丨Qin Shaolong
Editor丨Wing, Jasmine, Jerry
