Ushering in a positive start to 2022 for the Hainan Free Trade Port, 142 projects, involving a total investment of 37.3 billion yuan ($5.85 billion), started construction on Jan 6, including 10 in Jiangdong New Area.
Projects also included a number of major scientific research ventures.
Improving the Hainan FTP business environment
In moves to further improve the business environment, the General Office of the Hainan Provincial People's Government recently issued a guidance on further improving the business environment and better serving market entities.
Among the measures to be adopted are:
·Optimizing and re-engineering preliminary examination and approval procedures for investment projects.
·Raising the efficiency of examination and approval procedures for construction projects.
·Further simplifying approval requirements for the production and operation of enterprises, as well as lowering market access thresholds.
Additional measures include further improving import and export customs clearance efficiency, expanding the functions of the international trade "single window," as well as improving the efficiency of enterprise-related services and promoting business start-ups.
The Hainan FTP will grant market access to firms based on a prior commitment. [Photo/hicn.cn]
Reducing business barriers
In a move set to reduce business barriers and further boost market vitality, the Hainan FTP will grant market access to firms based on a prior commitment.
A recently drafted regulation on the administration of the Hainan FTP market access based on commitment announced that other than areas relating to national security, social stability, ecological and environmental security, as well as major public interests where the State implements access management, the requirement for licenses and approvals will be canceled.
After promising to meet the requirements and submitting required materials, commercial entities can begin business activities.
The move is seen as an important institutional innovation to improve the business environment in the Hainan FTP. A supervisory system will be established to oversee and prevent possible risks from businesses that base their market entry on commitments.
Employers to partner with universities
Collaborations between industry and academia are widely regarded as a key to catalyzing innovation and growth. Industry partnerships are instrumental in advancing research and creating a skilled workforce.
With this in mind, a program to facilitate partnerships between employers and universities was announced on Dec 10 by China's Ministry of Education.
University or employer partnerships will create a platform through which employers and partner universities and colleges can work together to provide customized training programs of up to one academic year or more, as well as short-term projects ranging from a few weeks to a semester.
The program is expected to train more college graduates with the knowledge and skills most needed for the employment market, the Ministry said in a press release.
With projects like the advanced technology and industrial innovation platform to be built in Sanya, covering research on smart electromechanical equipment, marine information detection, synthetic aperture radar (SAR) micro-nano satellites, and deep-sea engineering, university or employer collaboration can provide industry gains in the area of work-ready talent with specialist knowledge and practical training.
Overview
Haikou 
Sanya 
