Guangzhou Development District streamlines regulatory processes

Reform zone created

Guangzhou Development District got the nod from the provincial government to become a reform and experimental zone for Guangdong's business environment in June.

The district government issued a guideline in July to improve the local business environment to a world-leading level and launched a series of policies and documents covering 10 sectors, including starting a company, applying for a construction permit, power installation, real estate registration, tax and cross-border trade, to keep the district an ideal destination for global and domestic investors.

It leads the country in issuing expedited lists - which means the applicants can get the results immediately on site - that comprise a total of 223 categories of services, accounting for nearly one sixth of all that are provided by the government. The services include many matters that are closely connected with manufacturing and people's lives, such as household registration management, social insurance and transportation, according to the local government.

For new companies, the district government has launched reforms in the commercial system that roll 44 certificates into just one. As a result, when investors apply to set up a new company, they need to hand in just one application, which could help them get all the certificates needed, including business licenses, banking information and tax information.

The market watchdog of Guangzhou Development District said the new measure could cut application materials by 80 percent and dramatically lower the costs of starting a company.

"We set a goal that any new registration application could be accepted on site and handled at one time," said an official with Guangzhou Development District.

"We aim to create a world-leading business environment that is simplest in procedure, the most time-saving and with the lowest costs," an official from the district's administrative approval department said.

Official figures show that the district has already become more attractive to capital.

A government staff member at Guangzhou Development District hands over a business license to an applicant. [Photo provided to China Daily]