Shanghai stands out globally for its world-class business environment, as reflected in the latest statistics released by the World Bank in April.

The statistics highlight Shanghai's strong overall performance across a wide range of business environment indicators, placing it among the top-performing cities worldwide.

This remarkable achievement reflects Shanghai's unwavering commitment to institutional reform, service optimization, and enterprise-oriented governance.

The findings underscore Shanghai's success in aligning with international standards, streamlining regulations, and enhancing public services — a testament to China's broader strides in cultivating a business-friendly environment, said Luo Peixin, vice-president of East China University of Political Science and Law.

A showcase of institutional innovation

Shanghai's success lies in its ability to pilot and institutionalize forward-looking solutions. Notable initiatives include:

• Cross-departmental automatic updating of business registration information, improving market entry efficiency.
• The nation's first dedicated tax court, expediting dispute resolution and enhancing legal certainty.
• An integrated "land-to-power" service model, enabling businesses to obtain electricity earlier by incorporating power station planning into land use approval.

Such efforts have yielded tangible outcomes. For instance, businesses in Shanghai reported zero power outages and zero downtime, reflecting strong infrastructure performance and effective service coordination.

Promoting a fair and reliable business climate

In addition to infrastructure and regulatory clarity, Shanghai also leads in market fairness and financial accessibility:

• Electronic payment: zero cost, helping reduce enterprises' operational expenditure.
• Internet provider switching satisfaction: scored 96.2, indicating a competitive and consumer-friendly digital market.
• Commercial mediation substitutability: scored 100, reflecting mature and trusted dispute resolution mechanisms.

Furthermore, the city ranks at the forefront globally in key business operation metrics such as tax filing duration, loan application efficiency, internet stability, and government procurement and bidding.

Business reforms: A continuing commitment

Shanghai's journey to improve its business environment is far from over. In early 2025, the municipal government introduced its Business Environment Reform Plan 8.0, placing "enterprise experience" at its core. More recently, it outlined 10 missions aimed at addressing key challenges, further improving the business experience, and supporting high-quality economic development.

Shanghai's reform efforts also reflect a broader national strategy. As the only city in China selected for expert-based evaluation in the World Bank's business environment assessment, its recognized practices offer useful reference for other regions across the country.

As Luo from East China University of Political Science and Law noted, "Shanghai's model offers a blueprint for nationwide improvements."

Sources: Xinhua, chinadaily.com.cn