On the morning of March 25, the 2020 Provincial Work Conference on Stabilizing Foreign Investment and the “Cloud Investment Promotion” Results Conference was held in the Provincial Department of Commerce in the form of a nail video conference. Sheng Qiuping, Director General of the Provincial Department of Commerce, Wang Jian, Deputy Director General of the Provincial Department of Commerce, Fang Liqun, the heads of relevant departments of the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, and the heads of relevant departments (units) of the Provincial Department of Commerce were present at the meeting. The heads of commercial departments of cities, some counties (cities, districts), national economic and technological development zones, some provincial development zones, and overseas M&A industrial parks respectively attended the meeting locally.
At the meeting, Hangzhou City, Wenzhou City, Changxing County, Jiashan County and Ningbo Economic and Technological Development Zone exchanged information on foreign investment in 2019, experience and practices, measures to stabilize foreign investment since the outbreak of the epidemic, and work ideas for 2020; Wang Jian summarized the work of utilizing foreign capital in 2019 and deployed the work of foreign capital in 2020; Fang Liqun announced the list of the top ten counties (cities and districts) with actual foreign investment in 2019, and announced the achievements of “cloud investment promotion” in the province since the outbreak of the epidemic this year; The person in charge of the provincial development and reform commission introduced policies and measures to support foreign investment projects.
Finally, Sheng Qiuping came to the meeting to make a speech. He objectively analyzed the severe situation faced by the current foreign investment work, profoundly expounded the importance of stabilizing foreign investment, and put forward requirements for stabilizing foreign investment this year. The goal of stabilizing foreign investment cannot be relaxed, confidence cannot be shaken, and work measures should be more powerful. The national business system should display the Zhejiang spirit of “three places”, and according to the work requirements of the General Secretary for Zhejiang to “walk in the forefront, work in practice, and stand up to the tide”, overcome difficulties Go all out to make greater contribution to stabilizing foreign investment in Zhejiang!
The project has not slowed down and the investment confidence has not wavered, laying a solid foundation for the year’s work of “stabilizing foreign capital”.
Since the outbreak of the epidemic, the province has signed 74 “cloud contract” foreign-funded projects, with a total investment of 6.2 billion US dollars, equivalent to 43.5 billion yuan, including more than 30 foreign-funded projects above 100 million yuan, mainly involving advanced manufacturing, high-end equipment, new materials, new energy, digital economy, life health, modern commerce and trade, cultural tourism and other industries.
For example, Hangzhou held the work promotion meeting of “fighting epidemic to promote development”, and 11 foreign investment projects were settled through “cloud signing”, with a total investment of 1.141 billion US dollars. Ningbo held an online signing meeting for key projects. Eight foreign-funded projects signed online through “screen to screen”, with a total investment of 410 million US dollars. The main leaders of the municipal and county governments made statements at the signing meeting. Jiaxing signed 37 foreign-funded projects online, with a total investment of 3.43 billion US dollars, including Arthur Pharmaceutical’s high-end drug research and development and industrialization project, with a total investment of 10.58 billion yuan. Huzhou City implemented “one-to-one” project tracking by special personnel, signed 16 foreign investment projects online, with a total investment of 810 million dollars. Shaoxing City and German investors introduced the global export project of key components of new energy vehicles – Wolong ZF Joint Venture Headquarters through the “cloud contract”, with a total investment of 350 million euros. Wenzhou City carefully planned and launched a series of cloud investment promotion activities with the theme of “Hand in Hand with Cloud Investment in Wenzhou”, which were broadcast live across the country through WeChat, Tiktok, Kwai and other network platforms, and were reported by CCTV. Lishui City has signed a “cloud contract” to utilize foreign capital of 71 million US dollars.
The list of the top ten counties (cities and districts) with actual foreign investment in 2019: Yuhang District, Xiaoshan District, Xiacheng District, Xihu District, Binjiang District, Pinghu City, Jianggan District, Shangcheng District, Jiashan County and Gongshu District. The actual foreign investment in these 10 counties (cities and districts) accounts for 48.4% of the total of the province.
At present, the domestic epidemic of COVID-19 is basically under control, but the overseas epidemic continues to spread, which has caused a chain reaction of multi country stock market circuit breaker, gold and crude oil plummet, etc. The short-term world economy falls into recession, and may trigger a new round of global economic and financial crisis. The stagnation of border control, personnel and trade exchanges caused by the epidemic has further intensified the anti globalization. The foreign capital attraction has changed from “dare not come” to “cannot come out”, and the task of stabilizing foreign capital throughout the year is facing greater challenges. In such a severe situation, we need to change our thinking and methods, vigorously promote “cloud investment” with the help of Internet technology, and minimize the impact of the epidemic on foreign capital. First, we should strengthen tracking services and promote the implementation of “cloud” contracted projects. We should provide enterprises with the best quality, most convenient and most practical services, and promote the early implementation, early commencement, early production and early effectiveness of signed projects. The second is to innovate the work carrier and create a “cloud” investment attraction brand in Zhejiang. The province should work together to promote the construction of the “Zhejiang International Investment Single Window” platform, realize the normalization and institutionalization of “cloud” investment promotion, and seize the commanding heights of foreign capital utilization. Third, give play to the role of overseas business institutions and expand the resources of “cloud” investment projects. Explore the mode of jointly building overseas business representative offices by provinces, cities and counties, jointly promote the construction of global investment network system, and expand investment channels.
(Contributed by Foreign Investment Division)