The New Free Trade Zones Explained, Part I: Guangdong

April 23, 2015 Posted by China Briefing Reading Time: 5 minutes

By Dezan Shira & Associates
Editor: Rainy Yao

On April 20, the policy frameworks for the Tianjin, Guangdong and Fujian Free Trade Zones (FTZs) were officially published by the State Council, along with an updated Negative List, which details prohibited or restricted industries for foreign investment in all of the four existing FTZs in China, including the expanded Shanghai FTZ. The three FTZs were approved in December last year by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.

Following this, China announced the expansion of the Shanghai FTZ earlier this year to include Lujiazui, the city’s financial district. In Part 1 of this series, we provide details of the Guangdong FTZ and explore the new investment opportunities brought by the new Free Trade Zone.

Geographic Scope

The Guangdong FTZ covers an area of 116.2 square kilometers and consists of the three following, pre-existing development zones:

Guangzhou Nansha New Area (including Nansha bonded port)
Major industries: shipping industry, logistics, financial industry, international trade, high-end manufacturing
Shenzhen Qianhai Development Zone
Major industries: financial industry, modern logistics, information services, technology services
Zhuhai Hengqin New Area
Major industries: tourism industry, finance services, cultural and education industry, hi-tech industries

Lifted Restrictions

Service Provision between Hong Kong, Macau and Guangdong

Hong Kong and Macau service providers are now allowed to set up wholly foreign-owned international shipping enterprise within the FTZ
Hong Kong and Macau service providers are now allowed to set up intermediary service institutions for studying abroad at one’s own expenses within the FTZ
Hong Kong/Macau-invested travel agencies (capped at a number of five, separately) are now allowed to provide overseas group travel services (with the exception of Taiwan)
Hong Kong/Macau investors are now allowed to provide high-end medical services and launch pilot schemes to exchange patients among one another

Shipping

Wholly foreign-owned international shipping management enterprises is now allowed.
The limit on the number of shares a foreign entity may now own in an international shipping enterprise is raised: a foreign entity may hold up to 51 percent of shares in an international shipping agency.

The Guangdong local government will take charge of the approval procedures for foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs) engaging in international shipping management business.

Further Opening-up of the Financial Services Sector

Enterprises and financial institutions in the FTZ may now borrow RMB funds from overseas lenders.
Parent company based in Hong Kong or Macau with a subsidiary in the FTZ may issue RMB-denominated bonds in China.
Non-banking financial institutions located in the FTZ may now conduct cross-border RMB settlements.
Eligible foreign financial institutions may now set up foreign-owned banks within the FTZ; and Qualified Foreign Financial Institutions may set up banking joint ventures with Chinese enterprises, within the FTZ.
Eligible insurance companies and insurance intermediary institutions that are based in Hong Kong or Macau can now set up branches in the FTZ.
Commercial banks are encouraged to set up institutions in the FTZ to conduct offshore foreign currency activities
Eligible investors from Hong Kong or Macau operating non-financial institutions in the FTZ may now provide third party payment services.
Eligible institutions registered Hong Kong or Macau may now set up financial leasing companies in the FTZ.

Tax Policies

The Plan states that the tax incentives implemented in the Shenzhen Qianhai Development Zone and Zhuhai Hengqin New Area shall not apply to the other parts of the Guangdong FTZ.

Conclusion

“It’s good to see that the FTZs are being expanded beyond Shanghai now, although there will remain some uncertainty about the administration of entities in these zones for some time,” says Fabian Knopf, Senior Associate at Dezan Shira & Associates’ Pearl River Delta office. “Including existing zones such as Qianhai and Hengqin into the FTZ should simplify the administration of economic zones in China and help to provide more opportunities and easier access to the Chinese market for foreign investors. Investors and companies will need to become familiar with them to truly understand the impact on their respective businesses.”

In Part 2 of this series, we will give a brief introduction of the updated negative list. The next article will discuss the investment opportunities in the Shanghai, Tianjin and Fujian FTZs.

About Us

Asia Briefing Ltd. is a subsidiary of Dezan Shira & Associates. Dezan Shira is a specialist foreign direct investment practice, providing corporate establishment, business advisory, tax advisory and compliance, accounting, payroll, due diligence and financial review services to multinationals investing in China, Hong Kong, India, Vietnam, Singapore and the rest of ASEAN. For further information, please email china@dezshira.com or visit www.dezshira.com.

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