China's master plan for the Hainan free trade port, released on June 1, has 
boosted the appeal of the southern island province to global investors.

The global investment service hotline, set up by Hainan International Economic 
Development Bureau, has been hotter than ever in the past week.

"We received over 200 calls a day," said Lei Ting, head of the bureau's 
information and media relations division.

Lei said the calls came from more than 20 countries and regions, including the 
United States and Britain, and their consultations were mainly about investing 
in the province's high technologies, medical and health care, import and export 
trade, and tourism.

Han Shengjian, director of the bureau, said the new policy's focus on trade and 
investment liberalization and facilitation, as well as the free cross-border 
flow of funds and personnel, was quite attractive to foreign-funded enterprises.

Many enterprises have expanded their operation into Hainan. Deloitte China, 
which set up its Hainan office in January, is one of them.

"We expect a lot in Hainan. The policy of the free trade port will bring us 
lots of business opportunities," said Deloitte China partner Eric Lin. He said 
the auditing and consulting firm will see more customers from companies that 
choose to settle in Hainan and launch global businesses from there.

Fosun Tourism Group in April inked an agreement with the government of Sanya, a 
resort city in Hainan, to expand a tourist complex.

Qian Jiannong, board chairman and chief executive officer of the Fosun Tourism 
Group, highlighted the construction of a law-based, international and 
convenient business environment as mentioned in the plan.

Shen Xiaoming, governor of Hainan, said Monday that Hainan pays special 
attention to creating an open, transparent and predictable business environment.

The government must also respect enterprises and entrepreneurs and let them be 
the final judge of the local business environment, Shen said at a press 
conference held in Beijing.

Liu Cigui, Party Secretary of Hainan, extended a warm invitation to global 
companies and talents at the same event.

"Investors and talents from all over the world are welcomed to invest in 
Hainan, participate in the construction of the Hainan free trade port, and 
share China's development opportunities and the fruits of China's reform and 
opening-up," said Liu.  

Source: Hainan International Economic Development Bureau