HAIKOU, July 24. /TASS/. Foreign investors opened 50 new offices in China's Hainan last month, stated a message published on the website of the provincial administration.

According to official data, in January-June, 203 new foreign enterprises were set up on Hainan, which is by 24.54% more than in the same period in 2019. A significant increase in the number of companies with foreign capital in the past month occurred after the Chinese government on June 1 announced the "General Program on the Establishment of a free port on Hainan," aimed at liberalizing the economy and comprehensively promoting the island's business climate.

Currently, enterprises from 30 countries and regions of the world conduct business here, which are included in the list of the 500 largest multinational companies. Among them are the representations of the Australian-British mining concern Rio Tinto, the largest power generating company in France Electricite de France and the Thai conglomerate Charoen Pokphand Group.

The volume of actually used foreign investments on Hainan in January-June 2020 amounted to $ 319 million, which is by 98.69% more year on year. According to the local government, the increase in overseas investment is seen due to innovative advertising and advisory activities through online platforms and the global investment services hotline, which was launched in April by the Hainan International Economic Development Office.

"The hotline has received more than 3,000 calls from 20 countries, potential foreign investors are searching for information about doing business in such areas as finance, high technology, healthcare, energy trade, shipping, cross-border e-commerce and many other areas," the newspaper quotes a representative of the local administration. According to the official, 16 foreign investors who got consultations by phone have already registered their business on Hainan.

Earlier, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Сhinese State Council published the “General Program for the Establishment of a Free Port on Hainan,” according to which the island’s administration intends to create an effective system to fulfill a number of important social and economic goals by 2025, and within 10 years to decisively enhance the innovative mechanisms for the region's development.  

By 2025, the Chinese government intends to create an "international center for tourism and consumption" on Hainan. In order to do so, the "Eastern Hawaii" with their unique natural landscapes, thick rainforests and great climate will establish a developed network of hotels, which blend perfectly with white sandy beaches stretching along the coastline. The combination of an exotic subtropical nature and a modern eco-friendly infrastructure will boost tourist inflow to the island from the most distant parts of the world.