Reinforcing its position as a premier global investment hub, Guangzhou, the provincial capital of Guangdong, is holding the 11th Guangzhou International Investment Conference from June 26-27, attracting multiple major foreign projects to settle in the city.
Focusing on building Guangzhou into a world city with charm and contemporary vitality, the event served as a powerful platform for the city to articulate its compelling value proposition to the international business community.
The conference attracted over 1,000 executives and institutional leaders from across the globe. Its diverse program, featuring a main conference, closed-door sessions, promotions, networking events, and industrial tours, alongside a live stream reaching over 10,000 online viewers, underscored Guangzhou's commitment to open engagement.
A total of 177 major projects were signed, spanning nearly two dozen diverse industries. These agreements represent a projected total investment of 160.8 billion yuan (US$22.1 billion) and are expected to generate annual revenue exceeding 306.4 billion yuan (US$42.2 billion). Among these are many high-profile international companies solidifying their commitment to the city.
German-invested engineering firm Hyperpark Technology announced plans to leverage Herrenknecht's advanced tunneling technology to construct innovative smart parking facilities and new energy transport bases in Yuexiu District in Guangzhou. French automotive giant Valeo, ranked among the world's top ten automotive suppliers, revealed a significant investment to expand production of its smart cockpit systems within Guangzhou, which will establish the city as Valeo's sole Chinese hub and largest Asian base for these critical components.
Global healthcare leader Vantive highlighted Guangzhou's three-decade-long role as its strategic production and investment base. Andrew Shogan, Global Executive Vice President, confirmed the company's intent to further leverage the city's strong biopharmaceutical ecosystem. "Guangzhou has always been a strategic place for Vantive’s investment and production," Andrew Shogan noted, "and we plan increased investment to introduce more innovative products here."
Jens Hildebrandt, Vice President and Head of Greater China Government Relations at BASF, emphatically stated, "South China, especially Guangdong, is strategically vital to us. Guangzhou, as its center, is highly attractive – open, fast, innovative. It's an engaging environment for foreign investment." Hildebrandt highlighted the Greater Bay Area's strengths: "It's a great innovative center with vast talent pools that we draw from." He underscored BASF's deep commitment, citing their existing 240-person Guangzhou office, local factories, and the massive €10 billion investment in Zhanjiang City in Guangdong, which leverages the province's extensive supply chains. "Our Zhanjiang investment shows our commitment to the Chinese market, which represents 50% of the global chemical market," he added.
The forum showcased Guangzhou's formidable economic foundations. Guangzhou boasts six advanced manufacturing clusters, each exceeding 100 billion yuan in annual output, and seven service sectors, each generating over 100 billion yuan in added value. The city is also home to 13,500 high-tech enterprises, supported by a deep talent pool including 22,000 overseas professionals. Guangzhou ranks 4th nationally for its appeal to foreign talent.
The conference also emphasized focus areas poised for significant growth, including smart vehicles, medical devices, chips, the burgeoning low-altitude economy, and artificial intelligence.