By 2025, there will be 11000 newly established foreign-funded enterprises, and the actual use of foreign capital will increase by 9.1% year-on-year. Why does foreign capital continue to increase in Guangzhou? (Big Data Observation · Investing in China)

Pengrui Group in Singapore has established a wholly-owned hospital here; Hyundai Motor Group will establish its first overseas hydrogen fuel cell system research and development, production, and sales base here; Zeiss Optics' Guangzhou manufacturing base has grown into a "lighthouse factory"... As the southern gateway of China's opening-up to the outside world, Guangzhou, Guangdong, known as the "millennium commercial city", is becoming a fertile ground for foreign investment and development in China with its solid industrial foundation and institutional opening-up.

In 2025, facing multiple challenges, Guangzhou will establish 11000 foreign-funded enterprises, accounting for about 1/6 of the country's total; The actual use of foreign capital increased by 9.1% year-on-year, with a growth rate higher than the national average. Recently, reporters visited three foreign-funded enterprises to explore the "hardcore" charm of attracting foreign investment in Guangzhou.

Collaborating with knowledgeable individuals makes investment more secure

Not long ago, as soon as Pan Xiyuan, the chairman of Singapore's Pengrui Lai Group, arrived in Guangzhou, he conducted intensive business negotiations and talent interviews. The Pengruili Hospital we invested in in Baiyun District is currently undergoing renovation and is expected to operate by the end of this year. To advance the project, I will visit Guangzhou at least once a month, "said Pan Xiyuan.

Pengruili Group is a multinational comprehensive enterprise in the fields of healthcare and real estate. In January 2025, its wholly-owned Guangzhou Baiyun Pengrui Hospital was approved to settle in Baiyun District, becoming the first newly established foreign-owned hospital in Guangdong after the new policy of expanding the opening up of the national medical field in 2024 was issued.

Why choose Guangzhou? Pan Xiyuan has a deep connection with this city: he first traveled to Guangzhou in the 1990s and left a good impression; From 2000 to 2008, I frequently visited Guangzhou for work and witnessed the tremendous changes in the city. After starting his business, investing in Guangzhou has always been his big wish.

At the end of 2024, the National Health Commission and four other departments issued the "Pilot Work Plan for Expanding the Opening up of Wholly Owned Hospitals", allowing the pilot establishment of wholly foreign-owned hospitals in nine cities including Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. As soon as the policy was issued, Pan Xiyuan immediately led his team to Guangzhou and had the idea of building a hospital around Baiyun Station in Guangzhou.

We value the top-notch medical strength in Guangzhou. High level hospitals are gathered here, which have strong competitiveness in the international medical market. At the same time, the cost of building a hospital in Guangzhou is only half of that in Singapore, and the cost-effectiveness is extremely high, "Pan Xiyuan analyzed.

In addition, the location advantage of Guangzhou Baiyun Station area is obvious: after the high-speed railway is opened, major cities in the Greater Bay Area can be reached within two to three hours; About a half-hour drive from the airport to the station, convenient for international patients; The climate is pleasant, the food is diverse, and it is friendly to international people.

The overseas investment promotion activity of Baiyun District Government has further strengthened Pan Xiyuan's determination. At that time, the district government was conducting investment promotion in Singapore. After inspecting Pengruili Group, the relevant officials of the district government analyzed the company's projects in China on site and provided specific suggestions. They have done their homework in advance, not only with sincerity, but also with a deep understanding of the logic of industrial development. Cooperating with knowledgeable people makes investment more solid, "Pan Xiyuan sighed.

The project quickly landed with a total investment of 1 billion yuan, focusing on introducing cutting-edge cancer diagnosis and treatment technologies. With the deepening of cooperation, Pengruili Group has also established a joint venture with state-owned enterprises in Baiyun District to jointly build Baiyun International Medical and Nursing City, planning to attract more high-quality domestic and foreign enterprises to settle in.

A long-term stable policy environment makes investors more determined

In Modern Automotive Hydrogen Fuel Cell Systems (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "HTWO Guangzhou"), new energy vehicles equipped with hydrogen fuel cell systems are arranged neatly.

HTWO Guangzhou is Hyundai Motor Group's first overseas research and development, production, and sales base for hydrogen fuel cell systems. Looking back at the development process, the decision to invest in Guangzhou was very correct. ”The company's general manager Cui Douhe said.

In the field of new energy vehicles, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles have attracted much attention for their unique advantages. When it comes to the reason for choosing Guangzhou, Cui Douhe said that it is based on a comprehensive consideration of strategy, industry, policy, and market.

Guangzhou has a clear plan and policy guidance for the hydrogen energy industry. The forward-looking layout of the "Guangzhou Hydrogen Energy Industry Development Plan (2019-2030)", coupled with a favorable business environment, constitutes the "soft power" to attract foreign investment.

The industrial foundation is also solid: Guangzhou's hydrogen energy development is at the forefront of the country; The complete automotive industry chain is conducive to local collaborative innovation and cost reduction; Guangdong's abundant industrial by-product hydrogen and renewable energy hydrogen production resources ensure a stable supply of hydrogen sources.

In January 2021, HTWO officially settled in Guangzhou and will be completed and put into operation in 2023. Its hydrogen fuel cell system has the characteristics of modularity, simplification, and lightweight, and is suitable for multiple fields such as automobiles, ships, and rail transit.

In the early stages of market development, the company encountered difficulties: although the product was recognized, customers had concerns about costs and risks. In September 2024, a large logistics company presented a detailed cost analysis report at a product promotion event, raising concerns about hydrogen fuel costs, maintenance systems, and other aspects.

In November 2024, Guangzhou introduced several measures to accelerate the high-quality development of the hydrogen energy industry, including setting up subsidies for the demonstration operation of fuel cell vehicles and providing financial support based on the mileage traveled. After the policy was introduced, logistics companies changed their attitude and quickly signed a thousand vehicle strategic cooperation agreement with HTWO Guangzhou. The first batch of 100 hydrogen powered heavy-duty trucks were delivered in December of the same year.

In June 2025, the "Three Year Action Plan for Promoting the Development of Intelligent Connected New Energy Vehicle Industry in Guangzhou" was released, which clarified that the first 5000 fuel cell vehicles can enjoy purchase subsidies, further stabilizing market expectations.

With the support of policies, the layout of enterprises has also extended from production to research and development. In July 2025, Hyundai Motor Group established its first overseas hydrogen energy research and development center in Guangzhou, utilizing the resources of universities and scientific research in the Greater Bay Area to accelerate technology localization and innovation.

The long-term stable policy environment makes investors more determined. We will continue to expand the application of hydrogen energy in fields such as ships and power generation, "said Cui Douhe.

Government departments always try their best to solve problems for enterprises

At the Guangzhou manufacturing base of Carl Zeiss Optics (China) Co., Ltd., the lens production line is busy and orderly.

The strong growth of the base cannot be separated from the nourishment of this soil, "said Yang Xiaoguang, President of Zeiss Optics China. Since 2021, China has become Zeiss' largest single market globally and one of the fastest-growing and most innovative markets.

Yang Xiaoguang has been working at Zeiss Optics for 22 years and has personally experienced the charm of Guangzhou: "Government departments always try their best to solve problems for enterprises

At the beginning of this century, Zeiss France's custom lens orders grew rapidly, and European production capacity could not meet the demand. The group plans to build additional factories in Guangzhou, but is concerned about the efficiency of cross-border logistics. After being informed, Huangpu Customs voluntarily proposed to provide round the clock customs clearance services based on the shipment time of the enterprise.

Customized lenses rely on an efficient import and export system, and the support of customs has made us determined, "said Yang Xiaoguang. In 2007, Zeiss built a high-end customized workshop film and sunglasses factory in Huangpu Comprehensive Bonded Zone. After production, the first shipment will arrive in France within 24 hours under customs protection.

Afterwards, Huangpu Customs continued to optimize its services: providing "7 × 24 hours" appointment clearance to ensure "zero delay"; Include enterprises in the whitelist of nuclear release orders and control measures to enhance the efficiency of inspection and customs clearance; Guide enterprises to obtain AEO (Authorized Economic Operator) advanced certification and enjoy the convenience of priority processing of various procedures.

In 2025, Huangpu Customs will also promote the use of unmanned aerial vehicles for the transportation of Zeiss bonded lenses, pilot low altitude intelligent customs clearance mode, and further improve efficiency.

Efficient supervision and high-quality services have significantly enhanced the global competitiveness of our base. Nowadays, 'Made in Guangzhou' not only supplies the domestic market, but also sells globally, "said Yang Xiaoguang. In mid January of this year, Zeiss Optics' Guangzhou manufacturing base was selected as a "lighthouse factory" by the World Economic Forum, becoming the first factory in the global optical lens industry to receive this certification.

Looking ahead to the future, Yang Xiaoguang said, "Investing in China is investing in the future. We will continue to deepen local cooperation, rely on Guangzhou's well-established industrial chain, expand new businesses such as OK glasses, AR (augmented reality)/VR (virtual reality) smart glasses, and continue to move forward on this fertile land