Business environment ranks among top 100

Zhanjiang entered the list of China's top 100 cities in terms of business environment in 2021. It was the only one from western Guangdong province that made the top 100, according to a recent report.

The report on cities' competitiveness, which was jointly released by the National Academy of Economic Strategy at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and China Social Sciences Press in Beijing, reviewed the business environment of 291 Chinese cities.

Corporate executives gave Zhanjiang's business environment the thumbs-up. "In such a business-friendly environment, we have full faith in our company's development prospects," Zhu Shiyong, deputy general manager of an environmental tech company, told Zhanjiang Daily.

"With our Phase Two and Phase Three projects being planned, we will scale up our production and introduce more businesses to Zhanjiang," Zhu said.

"The city government has opened a green channel for project approval of key enterprises. Its service quality and efficiency are impressive and can rival that of the Pearl River Delta region," he said.

The city government designated 2021 as the Year of Business Environment Improvement in February last year to streamline administrative procedures, and reduce costs and time spent dealing with government agencies. All the 70 goals set in then were fulfilled in the year.

To achieve these goals, the authorities rolled out a series of encouraging policies and took action to promote an across-the-board upswing in the business environment.

The business environment optimization drive has spurred the growth of new businesses and injected fresh vigor into the local economy. Government data show that the number of new market entities mushroomed to some 56,000 in the first 11 months of 2021, increasing 5.18 percent year-on-year.

One-stop services offered by the city government have benefited entrepreneurs from home and abroad. For instance, a new business registration with the city's administration for market regulation can be completed in half a workday.

The government of Leizhou, a city under the administration of Zhanjiang, has delegated 40 approval powers from its departments of development and reform, natural resources, housing and development, and water to the Leizhou Industrial Park's administrative committee.

Che Zhenchi, founder of a tech company that is the first business to move to the park, said it took just 45 days to complete the process from bidding for the land to starting construction.

Such high efficiency has boosted investors' faith. In 2021, representatives of more than 100 businesses were attracted to Leizhou to explore investment opportunities. A group of big companies including Guangzhou Yuexiu Holdings and Overseas Chinese Town Holdings have since established a presence in the city.

Big data and internet technologies have contributed to the improved efficiency in administrative services. Applicants can make online appointments for all the administrative approval and registration items that need to be handled onsite. Some 97 percent of the administrative approval items can be dealt with online.

"Thanks to the help and efficient services of Mazhang district (of Zhanjiang), we got our tax rebate worth 214.35 million yuan ($33.9 million) in our bank account in less than three days, which greatly relieved us from pressure," said a financial executive at Zhanjiang Evergreen Aquatic Product Science and Technology.

"Operating in such a prime business environment, businesses feel more assured of their development," the executive said.

Zhanjiang Mayor Zeng Jinze said in his government work report in January that the city will continue to improve its business environment, further reforms and give businesses a new lease on life.