On November 7, in a dynamic effort to foster international collaboration and attract foreign investment, Foshan hosted the "Discover the Greater Bay Area, Another Go for European SMEs!" 2024 Foshan Business Opportunities Promotion in Vienna. This high-profile event, attended by Wen Xi, Foshan's Vice Mayor, and numerous Austrian business leaders, presented the advantages of Foshan's strategic location, industrial strengths, and investor-friendly environment. With a focus on advanced manufacturing, biomedical sectors, and medical technology, the conference highlighted Foshan's robust industrial ecosystem and its increasing role as a bridge between Foshan and Austria markets.

As an industrial powerhouse and a key gateway for international partnerships in Southern China, Foshan has positioned itself at the forefront of EU-China collaboration. Foshan is home to the Sino-German Industrial Services Zone (Foshan Sanlongwan Sci-Tech City), a leading platform for European cooperation and technological exchange. In recent years, businesses from European countries, including German-speaking nations, have become important partners in Foshan's economic development. Austria has a well-developed industry in fields such as machinery manufacturing and medical devices, offering vast potential for cooperation with Foshan.

During the promotion, Vice Mayor Wen highlighted Foshan's strengths in four key areas: location and infrastructure, industrial resources, business support, and quality of life. She extended an invitation to Austrian businesses, underscoring that "choosing Foshan means access to an exceptional business environment, efficient logistics, and a vibrant city that supports innovation and sustainable growth."

Highlighting Foshan's logistical connectivity and comprehensive industrial ecosystem, Vice Mayor Wen detailed the city's strengths in transport infrastructure and sector diversity. With 11 railway lines directly linking the city to the Greater Bay Area, and industry clusters spanning over 10 sectors valued at more than 100 billion RMB each, Foshan presents both a convenient and cost-effective choice for manufacturers and high-tech enterprises.

The event resonated strongly with attendees, including Andritz Hydro's Commercial and Compliance Manager, Adolf Fraczek, who emphasized the city's pragmatic governance and investor-friendly environment. "Our rapid growth in Foshan has been fueled by its supportive government, excellent planning, and pleasant environment, making it ideal for Austrian businesses and talent," Fraczek noted.

Representatives from major Austrian companies also expressed a keen interest in Foshan's potential:

As one of Austria's largest startup associations, Sebastian Kovacs, the Chairman of the Austrian Association for Science and Industry shared the organization's commitment to fostering growth for Austrian tech startups through investment and resource coordination. Having recently facilitated Austrian startup delegations to Beijing, Shanghai, and Zhejiang, they noted, "While I knew Foshan was renowned for its furniture and appliances, this event revealed the city's many emerging industries and growth potential. We look forward to exploring more collaboration opportunities here."

Hannes Schoberwarter, head of the Vienna Medical Association's International Division for Traditional Medicine and Prevention, shared his enthusiasm about the synergy between traditional and modern medicine in Foshan. "Our focus is on combining global traditional medicine with cutting-edge treatment technologies, and I work extensively with Chinese medicine. We are collaborating with Swiss enterprises on a new health center that integrates traditional medicine from China, India, and other countries. I look forward to learning more about Foshan's approach to traditional medicine."

Ing.Ralf Holler, CEO of Heller Medical Technologies, noted the value of Foshan as a key supplier for components in wearable medical devices—a core aspect of his firm's strategy. "For over 30 years, we've specialized in computer-assisted technology for medical diagnostics and treatments, with a focus on spectral therapies. Many of our device components are sourced from China, and we see Foshan as a promising supplier."

Andor Szabo, Product Engineering and Compliance Manager at Thermo Fisher Scientific, a U.S.-based Fortune 500 company with a strong Austrian presence, emphasized the potential for cooperation with Foshan. "Thermo Fisher Scientific's divisions in Shanghai and Suzhou already provide comprehensive research, diagnostic, and analytical tools. We look forward to engaging further with Foshan's business environment to discover additional collaboration opportunities."

Macus Dikulil, Global Business Development Director at Boehringer Ingelheim RCV, a prominent global player in biopharmaceutical contract development, expressed the company's eagerness to strengthen ties with Foshan's expanding biopharma sector. "As a biopharma company helping firms enter the biologics market, we already have an office and factory in Shanghai. This event provided a unique chance to learn more about Foshan's vibrant environment for future collaborations."

Vice Mayor Wen reaffirmed Foshan's focus on biomedicine and medical devices as priority sectors, highlighting the city's specialized biopharmaceutical industrial parks designed to attract medical innovation. For European companies considering relocating manufacturing bases, Wen suggested that Foshan's complete industry chain offers an efficient solution at a competitive cost, especially for businesses with R&D facilities in top-tier cities like Shanghai or Shenzhen.

As a trusted partner for German-speaking countries, Foshan has already welcomed several key industry delegations from Europe this year. The city anticipates that this event will lead to enhanced Austrian investments and more European enterprises establishing themselves in Foshan.

Photo by Nie Tingqi

This promotion event marks Foshan's first-ever business roadshow in Austria, a significant step in Foshan's broader international outreach. Beyond attracting high-quality talent and investments, the city seeks to integrate technology, projects, and industry expertise from Europe, further solidifying Foshan's role as a vital link between China and Europe.

Looking ahead, Foshan is setting the stage to become a top choice for European investors looking to enter the Chinese market with the support of a city that combines the resource accessibility of a first-tier city with the competitive costs of a second-tier location. The city plans to build on this event’s success by continuing to support Austrian companies interested in exploring Foshan, providing resources, market insights, and facilitating business visits to build lasting partnerships.

Reporter | Lynn

Reviser | Zoey

Source | Foshan Sanlongwan Sci-tech City Management Committee, Foshan News Network

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