Editor’s note:

On August 30, 2019, the Kunming Area of China (Yunnan) Pilot Free Trade Zone (hereinafter referred to as "Kunming Area") was formally inaugurated. Over the past year, the Kunming Area has been centering on the development of economy, continuously optimizing the business environment and promoting the transformation and upgrading of industrial structure. It has actively integrated into the construction of Belt and Road Initiative, and strengthened international cooperation with other countries. To review what Kunming Area of China (Yunnan) Pilot Free Trade Zone has achieved, the Kunming Information Hub specially launches a talk show called Global Opinions of Kunming Area of China (Yunnan) Pilot Free Trade Zone, and invites overseas people to give their opinions about the Kunming Area, discover new paths for future development and explore more opportunities for sino-foreign economic and trade cooperation.

Since its inauguration ceremony on August 30, 2019, the Kunming Area of China (Yunnan) Pilot Free Trade Zone has made a commendable start by improving its operating mechanism, institutional innovation and business environment, and actively attracting investment and fostering emerging industries to stabilize its economic performance.

In the interview series, Global Opinions of Kunming Area of China (Yunnan) Pilot Free Trade Zone, Randria Aina, from Madagascar, is optimistic about the future of Kunming Area. He used to work in an export trading company in Madagascar and came to Kunming in 2016. He is currently studying at Kunming University of Science and Technology.

Aina has been paying close attention to the Kunming area. He believes that the unique geographical advantages and professional arbitration services of Kunming Area can help enterprises who have the willing to invest here better “Bring in” and “Go global”.

Give play to the regional advantages to help enterprises reduce costs

Adjacent to Vietnam, Myanmar and Laos, Yunnan is located in the China Indochina Peninsula Economic Corridor and the Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar Economic Corridor. It is one of the key junctions for China to promote the construction of Belt and Road Initiative and all-round opening up. The Kunming Area is important to comply with the new trend of global economic and trade development, and implement the strategy of more active opening up, which is of great significance to integrate into the construction of Belt and Road.

In the view of Aina, Kunming not only has a spring-like climate all year round, but also has the advantage of being adjacent to South Asian and Southeast Asian countries, which can attract many domestic and overseas investors. The Kunming Area serves as a communication platform for China and other countries, helping Kunming become an international hub connecting South Asia and Southeast Asia.

Nowadays, many South Asian and Southeast Asian countries can be reached within a few hours from Kunming. Superior location and convenient transportation can reduce transport cost, human cost and time cost for enterprises investing in Yunnan. “It’s critical for an organization to reduce costs,” said Aina.

The first-class arbitration center creates a law-based business environment

Kunming Area has been striving to build a complex of international legal services for South Asia and Southeast Asia. In 2017, Kunming National Economic and Technological Development Zone International Commercial Arbitration Service Center (KICASC) was established, and it was inaugurated on “2018 Kunming International Friendship Cites Cooperation & Development Seminar”.

The KICASC is committed to providing a platform for international commercial arbitration services for Chinese and foreign enterprises, organizations and individuals, initiate to "Go global and Bring in". Its main tasks are providing international commercial arbitration services, arbitration legal knowledge and investment policy consultation. With the help of the South China Expo and South Asia Business Forum, the KICASC can conduct legal consultation, commercial mediation, intellectual property services, etc. It will create an international, convenient and law-based business environment for Kunming and deepen exchanges and cooperation with countries in South Asia and Southeast Asia.

“Not every foreign businessman in China can speak Chinese.” Aina fully affirmed the establishment of the KICASC. “Having such a service center can provide Chinese and foreign enterprises with legal advice and arbitration, which is conducive to cooperation between countries.”

“I’m sure that the business environment in Kunming will develop towards a first-class level.” Aina indicated that Madagascar has rich mineral resources and aquatic product resources. In the future, he will invite more Malagasy enterprises to invest in Yunnan and settle in Kunming, so as to fully discover the economic and trade potential between China and Madagascar and deepen bilateral economic and trade relations.

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(Editors:Christine, Rachel)