The Xiamen Service Outsourcing Seminar took place at Xiamen University of Technology in Xiamen, Fujian province on Jan 22.

Participants shared opinions on challenges and opportunities existing in China's service outsourcing industry. The Belt and Road Initiative's influence on the regional service sector and other hot topics were also discussed.

It was said at the seminar that the industrial landscape is shifting worldwide towards the service sector, with service trade, service outsourcing and the advanced manufacturing and research and development industries becoming the new focus of competition among global economies.

China has prioritized its service trade and service outsourcing industries in order to maintain economic growth and raise China's competitive strength, according to the seminar.

The seminar was intended to level up Xiamen's service outsourcing sector, which has already exhibited potential for strong growth.

Statistics show that Xiamen's service trade volume reached $7.3 billion in 2015 and executed off-shore service outsourcing contracts brought in $1.3 billion to Xiamen, an increase of 44.7 percent from the year before.

Xiamen is home to 331 service outsourcing enterprises that offer 53,000 employment opportunities and paid almost three billion yuan in tax in 2015.

At the seminar a memorandum of cooperation was signed between Xiamen commerce bureau and China Outsourcing Institute – a research organization under China's Commerce Ministry. The Xiamen Outsourcing Institute was also unveiled during the event.

Edited by Owen Fishwick