European companies keen to contribute to development of Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle Go back »

2022-04-20 | Southwest China

European companies keen to contribute to development of Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle

Chengdu, 20th April 2022 – The European Union Chamber of Commerce in China’s Southwest China Chapter today released the Southwest China Position Paper 2021/2022, which contains constructive recommendations for both the development of the Chengdu-Chongqing Two-City Economic Circle (Economic Circle) and improving the region’s business environment in general.

The Southwest China Chapter believes that the creation of the Economic Circle—which will become China’s fourth economic city-cluster—should mean that the days of Chengdu and Chongqing competing for resources and investment are over. Instead, the focus should shift towards cooperation and identifying synergies between the two cities to unlock the region’s huge potential. The Southwest China Chapter welcomes this and the additional business opportunities it will bring. A key part of this ambitious development goal will entail creating an open and competitive business environment, in which all companies have fair market access, and that the region remains both welcoming and attractive to foreign nationals.

Since the publication of the last Southwest China Position Paper in 2019, progress has been made in some areas, but certain longstanding challenges remain. For example, foreign-invested companies continue to experience regulatory and administrative barriers, and struggle to access clear, consistent information on policies and regulations that affect their operations in the region. Business opportunities for European small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are also becoming scarcer, unless they have sought-after technologies or other unique strengths in line with China’s ambitious industrial policies.

“The first step towards improving the business environment for all companies in Southwest China and making the Economic Circle an economically vibrant and competitive region is establishing regular, meaningful dialogue between the local authorities and industry,” said Massimo Bagnasco, vice president of the European Chamber and chair of Southwest China Chapter. “It is my sincere hope that both the Chengdu and Chongqing governments will receive the constructive recommendations presented in this report in the spirit of cooperation in which they are offered, to help Southwest China realise its full potential.”

Download the report here.

 

欧洲企业渴望为成渝经济圈的发展做出贡献

成都,2022 年 4 月 20 日—中国欧盟商会西南分会今天发布了《中国欧盟商会西南建议书2021/2022》,其中包含了对成渝地区双城经济圈 (下称“经济圈”)发展和改善该地区总体商业环境的建设性建议。

中国欧盟商会西南分会认为,经济圈的建立——它将成为中国第四个经济城市群——意味着成都和重庆两地争夺资源和投资的岁月将成为过去。此后两地将通力合作、协同联合,共同释放西南地区巨大发展潜力。西南分会对此喜闻乐见,并热切期盼将由此生发的更多商业机会。这一宏大的发展目标的一个关键点在于构建开放性营商环境,在这种环境中,所有公司都有公平的市场准入,该地区仍然欢迎和吸引外国居民。

自 2019 年上一份《中国欧盟商会西南建议书》发布以来,某些领域已经取得进步,但一些长期挑战依旧存在。举例来讲,外资公司持续面临监管行政壁垒,难以获得影响其在该地区经营的清晰、一致的政策和法规信息。本建议书受调会员表示,除非核心技术备受青睐或其他优势十分突出,且满足中国产业政策发展雄心之需,否则欧洲中小企业的商业机会将不断减少。

“改善中国西南地区所有公司的商业环境,使经济圈成为一个充满经济活力和竞争力的地区的第一 步,是在地方政府和行业之间建立定期、有意义的对话,” 欧盟商会副主席、西南分会主席马晓利先生说到,“我真诚地希望成都市和重庆市政府都能本着合作的精神,接受这份报告中提出的建设性建议,助力西南地区解锁发展潜力。”

下载报告全文

For more information please contact

May Huang

Xinhe Fan