FIEs explore Guangdong: unlocking future in a hub of openness and innovation｜Vibrant Guangdong

On April 2nd, a delegation of foreign-invested enterprises organized by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) visited the Guangzhou Development District and Huangpu District, offering a window into China's resilience in openness. Comprising representatives from 14 countries and regions, this delegation set records as the highest-profile, largest-scale, and most diverse group in terms of nationalities and industries in the history of local foreign enterprise tours.

"China has an extraordinary ability to identify new areas of innovation and growth, making it a driving force in the global economy," said Michael, Vice President of the South China Chapter of the Danish Chamber of Commerce (DCCC) in China. He highlighted that China's "AI+" initiative is reshaping the global industry, with technological advancements and a vast market creating an irreplaceable competitive edge.

"China's comprehensive industrial chain makes it indispensable to international capital," remarked Phaichit, Vice President of the Thai Chamber of Commerce in China, describing his experience in Guangdong as "impressive." He revealed that all surveyed chamber members plan to expand their investments in China and are keenly eyeing opportunities in emerging sectors.

During an afternoon government-enterprise exchange meeting, a set of key data underscored Guangdong's market appeal: a real-time population of 150 million drives an annual import volume of 450 billiondollars, over ten million household appliances are replaced annually under government initiatives, and investment in industrial equipment upgrades has reached a nine-year high. In the first two months of 2025 alone, Guangdong saw 3,585 newly registered foreign-invested enterprises, a 16.8% year-on-year increase. With one-fourth of China's total foreign-invested enterprises, Guangdong is cementing its status as one of the world's top investment destinations.

"Guangdong consumers have strong purchasing power and a preference for personalized and high-quality products, giving us vast growth potential," said Lee Chee Kong, President of Carlsberg China. He noted that the province's beer production in 2024 has surged nearly 32% compared to 2020, securing its position as the national leader. Meanwhile, a representative from InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) emphasized Guangdong's dominance in the hotel, exhibition, and consumer markets, with significant room for high-end hotel expansion. According to the Guangdong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, the province boasts over 460 five-star hotels and receives 840 million tourists annually, with tourism revenue projected to reach 1.3 trillion yuan by 2027.

Source: Lingnan on the Cloud

外资企业广东行：在开放创新的热土解码未来发展密码

4月2日，由中国贸促会组织的“广东行”外资企业考察团走进广州开发区、黄埔区，成为观察中国开放韧性的窗口。该考察团汇聚了来自14个国家和地区的外资企业，创下外资企业“地方行”活动嘉宾规格最高、人员规模最大、外商国别最多、行业领域最广的纪录。

“中国总是能敏锐地发现新的创新点和增长点，成为全球经济增长的引擎。”中国丹麦商会华南区副会长迈克尔（Michael）表示，中国推进的“人工智能+”行动正重塑全球产业版图，而科技革命叠加超大规模市场，构成了不可替代的中国优势。

“中国完备的产业链使国际资本难以割舍。”中国泰国商会副会长庄派吉（Phaichit）用“Impressive（令人印象深刻）”形容考察广东的感受。他透露，商会受访会员企业均计划扩大在华投资，并关注新兴领域的发展机遇。

在当日下午的政企交流会上，政府部门提供的一组数据揭示了广东的市场吸引力：1.5亿实时人口创造4500亿美元年进口额，家电以旧换新超千万台，工业设备更新投资增速创9年新高。2025年1-2月，广东新设外商投资企业3585家，同比增长16.8%。广东正以占全国1/4的外商投资企业存量和信心增量，展现其作为全球最佳投资目的地的潜力。

“广东消费者购买力强，更愿意尝试个性化、高品质产品，为我们提供了广阔的发展空间。”嘉士伯中国总裁李志刚表示，2024年广东啤酒产量较2020年增长近32%，稳居全国第一。洲际酒店集团代表也指出，广东的酒店业、会展经济和消费市场全国领先，未来高端酒店市场空间广阔。广东省文旅厅数据显示，广东现有460多家五星级酒店，年游客量达8.4亿人次，预计2027年旅游收入将达1.3万亿元。

文｜羊城晚报记者 孙绮曼

图｜羊城晚报记者 蔡嘉鸿

译 | 杨钧雅

英文审校 | 林佳岱