Chongqing Investment Guide: China's Strategic Inland Hub and Manufacturing Powerhouse

Comprehensive guide to investing in Chongqing, China's only municipality in the central and western regions, featuring the "33618" modern manufacturing cluster system and strategic position at the intersection of Belt and Road Initiative and Yangtze River Economic Belt.

2024-11-15
14 min read
Investment Guide

Key Insights

Chongqing, as China's only municipality in the central and western regions, serves as a crucial strategic hub for the Belt and Road Initiative and the Yangtze River Economic Belt. The city is positioned as an important strategic pivot for the Western Development Strategy and plays a unique role in China's regional development and opening-up framework.

With its distinctive "Mountain City" and "River City" characteristics, Chongqing covers 82,400 square kilometers with a population of 31.91 million, making it a vital national central city driving the construction of the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle and the Western Land-Sea New Corridor.

Chongqing: China's Strategic Inland Gateway

Chongqing is strategically located in southwestern China's inland region, in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. It governs 38 districts and counties over 82,400 km² with a permanent population of 31.91 million.

Strategic Positioning:

  • Only municipality in central and western China
  • Important national central city
  • Strategic pivot for Western Development
  • Intersection of Belt and Road Initiative and Yangtze River Economic Belt

Major Strategic Missions

New Era Western Development

Leading new phase of Western Development Strategy.

Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle

Dual-city growth pole formation.

Western Land-Sea New Corridor

New logistics corridor to global markets.

See Chongqing Foreign Investment Guide (2024 Edition) for details.

Investment Attraction Policies

Foreign R&D Centers (2024)

Further Encourage Foreign R&D Centers
Yu Shang Wu Fa [2024] No. 2

High-Quality Foreign Investment (2022-2024)

Three-Year Action Plan
Yu Fu Ban Fa [2022] No. 107

Business Environment Innovation (2022)

Pilot Implementation Plan
Yu Fu Fa [2022] No. 2

R&D Centers Tax Support (2021)

Import Tax Policies
Yu Shang Wu Fa [2021] No. 20

Talent Attraction (2017)

"Hongyan Plan" Implementation
Yu Fu Fa [2017] No. 14

Coverage:

  • R&D establishment and innovation
  • Foreign investment aggregation
  • Business environment optimization
  • Tax incentives for foreign R&D
  • International talent attraction

"33618" Modern Manufacturing Cluster System

A structured development approach spanning trillion-yuan leading clusters to future industries.

Three Trillion-Yuan Leading Clusters

Smart Connected New Energy Vehicles

EVs, autonomous driving, smart transport.

Trillion-Yuan Target

Next-Gen Electronic Information

Semiconductors, displays, smart devices.

Strategic Priority

Advanced Materials

Composites, alloys, specialty materials.

Innovation Leader

Three 500-Billion Pillar Clusters

Smart Equipment & Manufacturing

Advanced equipment and intelligent production.

Food & Agricultural Processing

Value-added processing industries.

Software & Information Services

IT services and digital solutions.

Six 100-Billion Characteristic Clusters

📱
New Display
🏍️
High-end Motorcycles
Light Alloys
🧵
Light Textiles
💊
Biomedicine
🔋
New Energy & Storage

18 "Rising Star" Clusters

12 High-Growth Industries

  • Power Semiconductors & IC
  • AI & Robotics
  • Servers
  • Smart Home
  • Sensors & Instrumentation
  • Smart Manufacturing Equipment
  • Power Equipment
  • Agricultural Machinery
  • Fiber & Composite Materials
  • Synthetic Materials
  • Modern TCM
  • Medical Devices

6 Future Industries

  • Satellite Internet
  • Biomanufacturing
  • Life Sciences
  • Metaverse
  • Frontier New Materials
  • Future Energy

Modern Service Industries

Financial Services

Comprehensive ecosystem for business and investment.

Modern Logistics

Networks leveraging strategic location.

Trade & Commerce

Platforms and distribution networks.

E-commerce

Digital commerce platforms.

Exhibitions & Events

International exhibition facilities.

Tourism

Cultural and natural tourism.

Healthcare Services

Comprehensive healthcare ecosystem.

Modern Agriculture

Food & Agricultural Product Processing

Modern agricultural processing leveraging resources and location.

Strategic Advantages for International Investors

  1. Strategic Geographic Position: Intersection of BRI and Yangtze River Economic Belt.
  2. Policy Support: Inland opening-up testbed and supportive measures.
  3. Comprehensive Industrial System: "33618" clusters across sectors and technologies.
  4. Transportation Hub: Multi-modal networks including river shipping and new corridors.
  5. Cost Advantages: Competitive operations with skilled labor and modern infrastructure.
  6. Innovation Ecosystem: Growing R&D capabilities and foreign R&D center support.

Conclusion: Chongqing as Your Gateway to Western China

Chongqing combines administrative advantages and strategic positioning with comprehensive clusters and opening-up initiatives.

Ready to Explore Chongqing's Opportunities?

From manufacturing to R&D and services, Chongqing offers the ecosystem needed for success in inland markets.

Ready to succeed in the Chinese market?

Through our comprehensive China business services, international enterprises can:

  • Connect with verified suppliers and high-quality manufacturing resources
  • Access professional sourcing, purchasing, and customization services
  • Obtain comprehensive company verification and risk assessment reports
  • Receive expert guidance on Chinese business culture and regulations

Let our professional team help you navigate the Chinese market and achieve your business goals with confidence.