The second edition of the South China Position Paper builds on the success of the first one released in 2015. It compiles the latest assessments and concerns of European businesses operating in South China and offers constructive recommendations to local policy makers. The 2019/2020 edition evaluates the region’s ongoing development and provides recommendations on how the government can create a business environment that facilitates further development and attracts fresh investment.

The South China Position Paper presents key recommendations on three themes: the quality of the business environment and the foundations for its industrial upgrade, the stability of regional human resources, and the attractiveness of the province for foreign investment. Critical as some of the South China Position Paper’s recommendations may seem, they are proposed in an honest effort to improve the business environment in South China for both domestic and foreign companies alike.

Please click here to view the English press release and here to view the Chinese press release.

In this second Southwest China Position Paper, the European Chamber puts forward recommendations to the local governments of Chengdu and Chongqing on how they can improve their local business environments and attract more international investment, while alleviating the concerns of European companies already operating in the region.

The European Chamber argues that while the development of 'hard infrastructure'—roads, bridges and railways—has helped to connect Southwest China with the rest of the world and open up more investment opportunities, slowing growth has necessitated a reappraisal of the region's traditional economic base. To successfully upgrade its heavy industries and shift towards smart manufacturing and the provision of services, Southwest China needs to focus on developing 'soft infrastructure', or human capital and institutions. By improving public governance, law enforcement, the financial system, education and healthcare, as well as creating the right conditions to attract and retain a skilled workforce, Chengdu and Chongqing can begin to rival other leading investment destinations in China.

Please click here to view the English press release and here to view the Chinese press release.

This is the third edition of the Shanghai Position Paper, which continues the series of standalone local Position Papers that the European Chamber has been releasing since January 2015.

The Shanghai Position Paper 2018/2019 argues that the clock is ticking for Shanghai to achieve its developmental goals of becoming an international economic, trade, financial, shipping and logistics, and innovation centre by 2020. Specifically, the paper discusses how Shanghai can increase its innovation capacity, foster its manufacturing competitiveness, become more important for global finance, improve its quality of life and gather the best global talent.

Please click here to view English press release. And please click here to view Chinese press release.