Published by ChinaMNC · Zengcheng

Guangdong’s 2026 Global Investment Promotion Conference: What Foreign Founders Need to Know

Guangdong will host the 2026 Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Global Investment Promotion Conference in Guangzhou on November 3. Foreign founders should note the province’s latest foreign investment figures, confirmed corporate participation, sector focus and project-matchmaking format.

Guangdong sets November 3 for GBA global investment conference

The Guangdong provincial government, together with the Hong Kong and Macao SAR governments, will hold the 2026 Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Global Investment Promotion Conference in Guangzhou on November 3. The details were announced at a press conference in Guangzhou on October 28.

For foreign founders weighing a China entity, the event is a practical window into where provincial authorities are directing investment attention, which industries they are prioritising and how project matchmaking is being organised. It is not a substitute for legal or tax due diligence, but it signals the sectors and counterparts that Guangdong wants to connect with global investors.

Foreign investment into Guangdong grew in the first nine months

According to figures released at the press conference, Guangdong utilised RMB 89.17 billion in actual foreign investment from January to September, up 14.1% year on year. The growth rate ranked first among major provinces attracting foreign investment.

Investment from APEC member economies grew particularly quickly. Over the same nine-month period, Guangdong absorbed RMB 71.54 billion from APEC economies, an increase of 13.7%.

For founders from APEC economies, the figures suggest an active investment channel rather than a guarantee of approval or incentives. Company registration, sector permissions and local incentives remain subject to the applicable laws, policies and the specifics of each project.

254 leading companies confirmed for the Guangzhou event

As of October 27, 254 companies from the Fortune Global 500, the China 500 and leading industry players had confirmed participation, according to the source.

Zhu Xiaojun, deputy director of the Guangdong Provincial Department of Commerce, said the three Greater Bay Area governments have jointly held the conference for five consecutive years since the first edition in 2022.

The first four editions recorded 5,718 signed projects with a combined value of more than RMB 9 trillion. More than 90% of the investment projects from those four conferences have started construction, according to the source.

The source also said the conferences have helped bring projects including CNOOC and Shell, the China Resources Microelectronics southern headquarters, Taiwan Union Technology, Carlsberg, ZF, Siemens Healthineers and SK Chemicals into construction. It said these projects have helped extend strategic emerging industries in Guangdong up the value chain, including biomedicine, green petrochemicals, new energy, advanced materials, electronic information and automobiles.

Across the first four editions, Fortune Global 500 companies participated 539 times in cumulative terms, and 243 corporate executives at or above China vice-president level attended, according to the source.

Theme and priorities for the 2026 edition

This year is described as the opening year of the 15th Five-Year Plan period. The conference keeps the theme “Invest in the Greater Bay Area, Create a Better Future Together”.

The source says the event will align with the strategic positioning of “one point, two places”, the opportunity of APEC’s “China Year”, and cooperation with developed countries including Europe, the United States, Japan and South Korea as well as emerging markets in the Middle East and ASEAN.

It will also promote coordinated development of manufacturing and services, with the aim of drawing global capital, quality projects, emerging industries and high-level talent to the Greater Bay Area.

For foreign founders, the stated priorities point to sectors where Guangdong is seeking investment and partnerships. They do not establish eligibility for any particular company structure or licence.

How the conference is structured

The event combines a main venue programme, investment activities in Pearl River Delta cities, and domestic and overseas roadshows and site visits. This year’s format places more emphasis on industrial absorption and project matchmaking, according to the source.

The November 3 main conference will include a review of previous conferences, investment sharing by multinational companies, the release of an “Invest in Guangdong AI industry investment model” and a list of major signed projects.

Before and after the main conference, participating companies will be organised to visit relevant cities. The nine Pearl River Delta cities will host supporting city-level investment events. Ten industry-specific sessions will be held covering key areas including biomedicine, high-end medical devices, semiconductor optical communications, big data, artificial intelligence, integrated circuits and new electromechanical integration.

Zhu said the arrangements focus more on project matchmaking, opening application scenarios and converting intentions into implementation. The aim, he said, is for participating companies to see projects, find scenarios and connect with the right partners.

Practical takeaways for foreign founders

• Date and place: The main conference is scheduled for November 3 in Guangzhou.
• Organisers: The Guangdong provincial government jointly with the Hong Kong and Macao SAR governments.
• Scale: 254 Fortune Global 500, China 500 and leading industry companies had confirmed participation as of October 27.
• Investment backdrop: Actual foreign investment in Guangdong reached RMB 89.17 billion in January-September, up 14.1%, with APEC economies contributing RMB 71.54 billion, up 13.7%.
• Sector focus: Biomedicine, high-end medical devices, semiconductor optical communications, big data, artificial intelligence, integrated circuits, new electromechanical integration, new energy, advanced materials, electronic information and automobiles.
• Format: Main conference, city-level investment events in nine Pearl River Delta cities, ten industry sessions and site visits.

Founders planning to register or expand a company in China can use the event to understand sector priorities and identify potential local counterparts. Any registration, licensing, land, tax or incentive decision should still be checked against current rules and professional advice.

This summary is based on information published by the relevant Chinese government website and is general information, not legal or tax advice.