Shenzhen, China is the centre of the country's economic miracle. In just over 30 years Shenzhen has been transformed from a tiny little fishing village to the most prosperous "Special Economic Zone" in China. Because of this many companies look to open their first Chinese office in the city and there are certainly many good reasons to do so. So here are five of the best to get you started.
Proximity to Hong Kong
Hong Kong is only a few miles away and there are multiple easy to access crossing points dotted around the city. The busiest border point is Lohou where tens of thousands of people sally back and forth every day.
For expats this means it's both convenient and cheap to get into Hong Kong with a round trip journey on the island's MTR system costing around 100 HKD (around $13 USD), and station hopping between points after crossing the border is good value too (usually no more than 10 HKD).
For businesses that means you can access all the benefits of Hong Kong and combine them with all the benefits of China. That includes cheap but well educated labour, and banking facilities that enable easy transfer of funds to other areas of the world.
Special Economic Zone
Shenzhen was created to deliver an economic boom, it is a "special economic zone" where there are legal and financial incentives for foreign corporations to invest in and develop long lasting businesses. This zone has now been extended to cover additional areas that previously weren't able to compete on an equal basis such as Bao'an and Longgang.
There is a push from central government to improve conditions in other provinces but local government is firmly behind the ongoing prosperity of the city and has announced 28 regulations since the start of the year to improve prospects for foreign owned businesses.
Events and Networking
There are numerous trade shows and other promotional events around China, however Shenzhen is trying very hard to position itself as a premier business destination. The first signs of the city asserting its own image are the upcoming Universiade Games - where 163 countries will compete on an international stage in university athletics tournaments.
Experienced High Tech Industry
Look at your computer, it's highly likely that your keyboard, mouse and monitor were made in Shenzhen. The city is a pioneer of high technology and is currently investing billions in LED the cutting edge of low energy light production, and is home to companies such as Foxconn and BYD too.
For foreign companies this is incredibly useful as the city can offer a much higher skill set for employers than other similar sized Chinese cities.
Language
There is a dearth of English language skills in China, compared to most nations the country has the 2ndlowest level of functional English literacy in the world. However Shenzhen has a much higher rate of English speakers than the rest of the country, partly because of the proximity to Hong Kong and partly because the city has been involved in foreign business for much longer than the rest of the country.
Investors in the country should look to learn the local language (which in Shenzhen is Mandarin not Cantonese - unlike the rest of the province where the reverse is true) but it's a big time saver to be able to find skilled employees who can speak your language from the start of your project.
Shenzhen is a great place to do business, and while you should never rush into doing business anywhere in China without seeking appropriate specialist advice, it's one of the best places to consider when you are ready to get started.
