In January 2024, the Qingpu District Commission of Commerce released the Implementation Opinion on Stabilizing Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment in Qingpu District. The policy took effect on Feb 16 and will remain valid for three years, aiming to support sustainable foreign trade and investment growth.

I. Promoting the stability, scale, and quality of foreign trade

1. Stabilizing the scale of foreign trade

(1) Supporting stable development of foreign trade enterprises. Enterprises will be encouraged to apply for the city's top 100 lists in areas like imports, exports, new business models, and self-owned brands. Newly recognized enterprises will receive a one-time support grant of 200,000 yuan ($28,076), alongside strengthened policy support for streamlined customs clearances and tax refunds.

Support will be provided to various business enterprises establishing trade headquarters in the region. Recognized trade headquarters can receive up to 14 million yuan in cumulative support across several areas, including the initial setup, purchasing or leasing property, operational costs, and mergers and acquisitions.

Support will be given to enterprises applying for various advanced qualifications. Companies that obtain Authorized Economic Operator  status for the first time will receive a one-time grant of 100,000 yuan.

(2) Expanding import scale appropriately. Dynamic adjustments will be made to the CIIE Shanghai Trading delegation's "6+365" service platform, which provides transaction services during the six-day CIIE and year-round. This will be to amplify the spillover effects of the expo, supporting the transition from "exhibits to commodities" and "exhibitors to investors". Efforts will also encourage platform-led investment and business-led business attraction to empower trade entities for greater growth and impact.

2. Promoting innovation in foreign trade development

(3) Enhancing the capabilities of industrial parks and the Qingpu section of the Hongqiao International Central Business District.

The district will develop and attract model enterprises for international trade distribution centers, providing a one-time subsidy of 200,000 yuan for those newly recognized as model enterprises.

It will also advance the construction of a national import trade promotion innovation demonstration zone, encouraging the gathering of internationally recognized trade enterprises.

Additionally, it will expedite the establishment of import goods distribution centers and branch platforms of the Hongqiao overseas trade center, encouraging relevant trade associations, platforms, organizations, and enterprises to set up in the area.

(4) Promoting cross-border e-commerce innovation and growth. Expand the import-export scale and facilitate the return process for cross-border transactions by allowing imported return items to be consolidated with exports under a single declaration.

(5) Supporting the development of bonded repairs and remanufacturing. This includes assisting enterprises within the comprehensive bonded zone to conduct bonded repair services and encouraging them to extend their industrial supply chains, enhancing their capability to handle the international repairs business.

Under conditions of information sharing and controlled risk, eligible enterprises outside special customs regulatory areas may engage in high-tech, high-value-added, and environmentally friendly bonded repairs activities.

3. Supporting market diversification

(6) Foreign trade enterprises are supported to participate in domestic and overseas exhibitions. Assistance is provided to foreign trade enterprises that attend major international exhibitions held domestically, such as the China International Import Expo, the China International Consumer Products Expo, and the Canton Fair. Companies are encouraged to participate in priority exhibitions listed in the recommended directory, with support available to cover booth fees.

4. Accelerating the development of trade in services

(7) Strengthening support for service trade bases and enterprises. A one-time subsidy of 500,000 yuan will be provided to service trade bases designated as national-level specialized service trade bases, 300,000 yuan for those recognized as city-level demonstration bases, and 200,000 yuan for city-level service trade demonstration projects.

Additionally, service outsourcing companies with an annual completed amount exceeding $5 million will be granted a one-time subsidy of 200,000 yuan upon qualification verification.

II. Enhancing the attraction and utilization of foreign investment

1. Advancing high-level opening-up

(8) Organizing investment promotion activities and strengthening overseas investment. Efforts will be made to strengthen cooperation with foreign chambers of commerce and associations in Shanghai, the overseas office of the Shanghai Foreign Investment Development Board, as well as overseas economic and trade promotion institutions. Active participation will be encouraged in both domestic and international investment promotion events, such as "Invest in Shanghai", the Shanghai City Promotion Convention, and the Global Investment Promotion Conference. By empowering senior executives of foreign-invested enterprises as "overseas investment ambassadors", organized outbound delegations and targeted visits will be conducted to promote and attract investment from abroad.

(9) Focusing on industry leaders for investment. Efforts will be directed toward attracting top-tier companies along critical industry supply chains, with a focus on core sectors such as "Big Data, Big Health, and Big Commerce". Priority will be given to introducing key foreign investment projects within high-end manufacturing and high-end services, strengthening the strategic foundation of these leading industries.

(10) Expanding openness in key areas. Building on the spillover effect of the CIIE, efforts will focus on converting exhibitors into investors and attracting high-level international service providers in fields like digital trade, information services, and exhibition services. These enterprises will be encouraged to establish a presence in the Qingpu area of the Hongqiao International Central Business District, accelerating the region's status as a hub for specialized global services.

(11) Encouraging multi-channel promotion of the district's investment environment. Support trade associations, investment promotion agencies, professional institutions, and businesses in conducting activities that enhance investor confidence, stabilize business, promote trade and investment, brief policies, and investment promotions events. For eligible initiatives, the district provides expense subsidy of up to 50 percent of expenses, capped at 500,000 yuan per project.

2. Enhancing the level of foreign investment attraction

(12) Optimize the structure of foreign investment industries. Guide foreign investment towards advanced manufacturing, modern services, high-tech sectors, and energy conservation and environmental protection, aligning with the district's industrial orientation.

Industrial projects for foreign investment that meet criteria for intensive land use may receive preferential land supply under equal conditions.

(13) Strengthen the cultivation of foreign investment headquarters. This initiative aims to attract foreign investment by encouraging the establishment of multinational company regional headquarters, business unit headquarters, trade headquarters, and foreign R&D centers within the district.

The focus is supporting eligible foreign enterprises to consolidate their operations, expand their functions, and elevate their capabilities in applying for various headquarters recognitions.

Qualified foreign headquarters can receive support measures from both the municipality and district levels, adhering to the principle of maximizing benefits without duplication. This includes financial assistance, rewards, and management services for high-level talent recruitment.

(14) Encouraging foreign investment in Shanghai's international consumer center development. Support will be provided for foreign investment to engage in the construction of key commercial projects in the consumption aggregation zone of the West Hongqiao area and the "Water Town International Consumption Window". Support will be provided for the establishment of new high-end first stores and flagship stores in Qingpu as well as the introduction of new mid-to-high-end international consumer brands.

International brands that launch their flagship stores and host their global debut events in Qingpu will be eligible to apply for innovative support policies under Shanghai's consumer market initiatives.

(15) Accelerating green and low-carbon upgrades. This initiative supports foreign investments in actively participating in carbon peak and carbon neutrality strategies. It encourages the development of green technologies, the design of environmentally friendly products, the construction of green factories, the creation of green supply chains, and the establishment of model enterprises for green designs. Additionally, it facilitates the involvement of foreign-invested enterprises in research and development and the promotion of green and low-carbon technologies.

3. Increasing support for foreign investment development factors

(16) Strengthen service guarantees for the implementation of foreign investment projects. Establish a dedicated working group mechanism for significant and key foreign investment projects at the district level, enhancing project specialist services in towns and district-affiliated companies.

Create and dynamically adjust a list of key foreign investment projects with an investment total of over $30 million, providing comprehensive support for project planning, land use, energy use, and construction policies in accordance with laws and regulations.

Strengthen full-process tracking services to facilitate foreign investment project approvals and filings, environmental assessments, logistics, and personnel entries and exits, promoting the accelerated implementation, construction, and production of key foreign investment projects.

(17) Encourage foreign investment enterprises to increase capital and expand production. Encourage existing foreign-funded enterprises to boost capital investment through enhancing production capacity, expanding factory facilities, and updating equipment.

III. Continuously optimizing the business environment

1. Enhancing enterprise service capabilities

(18) Improve the construction of foreign-related service platforms. A "one-stop" integrated service window will be established in the Qingpu area of the Hongqiao International Central Business District to provide comprehensive services for registered enterprises, including business registrations, tax registrations, foreign talent recruitment, executive work permits, immigration, and residence permits.

There will also be a focus on strengthening inter-departmental collaboration, to streamline administrative approval processes and improve efficiency in approvals.