Global investors eye opportunities at SZ conference

Video and photos by Liu Xudong

Global investors and entrepreneurs have set their eager eyes on Shenzhen for the fifth straight year as the city hosted its annual global investment promotion conference at the Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center in Bao’an District this morning.

This year, the global investors’ get-together had assembled more than 1,000 guests including senior executives of Fortune Global 500 companies and China’s top 500 firms, as well as foreign diplomats and representatives of foreign business associations.

Views of the 2023 Global Investment Promotion Conference at Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center in Bao'an District today. 

The conference witnessed the signing of over 380 projects that involve investments surpassing 1 trillion yuan (US$139.8 billion).

Guo Guangchang, chairman of Fosun International, shared in a speech that Fosun and Shenzhen are highly compatible. Shenzhen’s future development is backed by robust policies, ambitious goals, and inherent strengths.

Attendees take an interest in an exhibit.

“As a participant, witness, and beneficiary of Shenzhen’s reform and opening up, Fosun will continue to increase its investment in the city,” Guo said.

Zhang Yihao, global vice executive president of GE Healthcare, said that the year 2023 marks the beginning for GE Healthcare to speed up its investment in Shenzhen. “Innovation is the keyword of Shenzhen, and it is also the DNA of GE Healthcare.”

A scene of the Investment Results Exhibition of the conference.

Wan Biao, vice chairman of HONOR Device Co. Ltd., disclosed at the conference that in the third quarter of 2023, HONOR’s market share jumped to the first spot in the domestic mobile phone market, with foldable phone sales also ranking at the top.

Wan said that all of this could not have been achieved without the innovative atmosphere and policy support in Shenzhen.

A drone is on display at the sideline of the investment promotion conference.

Chen Lin, executive chairperson of Shell companies in China, said in a video speech that Shenzhen is the city with the most complete new energy vehicle industry chain in the world, and Shell has joined hands with Shenzhen for this reason. 

According to Chen, the joint venture between Shell and BYD has been successful in Shenzhen for over a year, and currently operates more than 13,000 electric vehicle charging terminals in the city. “The efficient government services in Shenzhen have left a deep impression on me,” Chen said.

In an interview with Shenzhen Daily, Siegfried Boerst, regional managing director of LEGOLAND China, disclosed that construction of the LEGOLAND resort in Shenzhen, which is the world’s largest, is in steadily progressing.

Siegfried Boerst, regional managing director LEGOLAND China, talks to local media at the conference today.

“I think in the next six months or so, we will be able to announce an opening date,” said Boerst, who is confident that the theme park will achieve great success with its location in Shenzhen.

This year’s conference featured a main event, the Investment Results Exhibition, 12 district-level investment promotion conferences, and 10 activities at overseas subvenues.

Aniel Kerkvliet, chief representative of Netherlands Business Support Office Shenzhen, poses for a photo at the investment promotion conference today.

According to statistics, the Shenzhen Global Investment Promotion Conference witnessed deals on over 900 projects signed from 2019 to 2022, involving a total intended investment of over 3 trillion yuan (US$420 billion).

In 2022, Shenzhen’s actual use of foreign capital reached a new high to US$11 billion, accounting for 39% of Guangdong Province’s total.