Chongqing has established a total of 8,753 foreign-invested enterprises, with 322 of the world’s top 500 companies having operations in the city. These foreign enterprises directly and indirectly drive employment for one-fifteenth of the urban workforce, contribute approximately 50% of import and export volume and one-tenth of tax revenue, becoming an important force in promoting local economic growth.
Foreign investment provides strong support for developing new productive forces and achieving modernization. During the “14th Five-Year Plan” period, Chongqing accelerated the creation of high-quality foreign investment clusters, promoted industrial transformation and upgrading, helped ensure and improve people’s livelihoods, and served enterprise development.
In promoting industrial development, leading enterprises have contributed to the “33618” modern manufacturing cluster system. Chongqing has introduced a number of projects with strong radiation effects and development potential, such as semiconductor, glass technology, and industrial manufacturing companies, promoting the demonstration construction of green factories, expanding industry-university-research cooperation, and bringing advanced technologies, management experience, and international talent. This has driven development across the industrial chain and promoted the high-end, intelligent, and green transformation of manufacturing, injecting strong momentum into Chongqing’s manufacturing sector.
In terms of improving people’s livelihoods, foreign enterprises have provided citizens with more choices. The introduction of international warehouse clubs and sports retail stores has enriched citizens’ one-stop international shopping experience; foreign-invested medical institutions have enhanced the supply of high-end medical resources; foreign banks have provided more convenience for cross-border settlements and student exchange; in international schools, citizens can access international educational resources; in various international restaurants, citizens can enjoy global cuisine nearby. These foreign enterprises have expanded effective supply and met citizens’ diverse needs.
In recent years, Chongqing has continuously built a full-process service system for foreign investment, creating an “intelligent service cloud platform for foreign enterprises,” establishing administrative service teams, and implementing policies such as the “Three-Year Action Plan for Building High-Quality Foreign Investment Clusters” and “20 Measures for Stabilizing Foreign Investment,” as well as rewards for foreign-invested R&D centers. These measures help more foreign enterprises stay and develop well, while also bringing more high-quality products and services to citizens and making greater contributions to economic and social development.
The next step will involve continuously building the “Invest in Chongqing” brand, hosting international and professional investment negotiation activities, establishing global industrial cooperation platforms, continuously strengthening the protection of foreign investors’ legitimate rights and interests, attracting more high-quality foreign investment to participate in building the new Chongqing, promoting high-quality development, creating high-quality living standards, and innovating efficient governance.