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The document outlines 30 measures for optimizing the business environment in Guangzhou in 2026, focusing on five key areas: government services, factors of production, industry, opening-up, and regulation. Core initiatives include promoting "AI + government services," reducing comprehensive costs for enterprises, supporting emerging industries, and advancing opening-up. The goal is to establish Guangzhou as a premier business environment hub with the best industrial ecosystem and the lowest costs.

The Office of the Leading Group for Promoting the Construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area of Guangdong Province has released the *Handbook 2.0 on Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Cooperation and Development Platforms*, covering four major cooperation platforms (Qianhai, Hengqin, Nansha, and Hetao) as well as 13 specialized platforms. These platforms serve as pioneers in attracting foreign investment, driving institutional innovation, and cultivating new quality productive forces, thereby forming "institutional highlands" and becoming important vehicles for the integrated development and high-level opening-up of the Greater Bay Area.

The "Measures of Guangdong Province for the Management of Government Service Items" have been officially issued, aiming to achieve the goal of "the fewest approval and recordation items and the fastest government services" through standardized, regulated, and convenient management. The Measures establish mechanisms such as dynamic adjustment of item lists, compilation of implementation lists, and cross-regional service handling, providing institutional safeguards for improving administrative efficiency across the province.

On April 14, the Hong Kong Department of Justice released the "Directory of Hong Kong Legal Professional Service Providers Supporting 'Going Global' Initiatives," which covers over 70 legal service units, including international arbitration institutions, practicing barristers, and 60 local and international law firms. The directory aims to help mainland enterprises accurately connect with Hong Kong's legal professional services.

On April 13, the Several Measures to Support High-Quality Talent Development in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin and its supporting implementation rules were officially released. The measures provide a maximum funding of 10 million yuan per project for overseas high-level talent innovation and entrepreneurship projects, and offer living and housing subsidies to different types of talent.

Shenzhen has released its 2026 Work Plan for Optimizing the Market-Driven Business Environment. Key measures include: improving market access and exit mechanisms; promoting the commercialization of intelligent connected vehicles and Shenzhen-Hong Kong cross-border drones; strengthening government-guided funds and financing services for small and micro enterprises; advancing the opening of public data; and removing local protectionism in government procurement and tendering.

In March 2026, the Shenzhen Municipal Development and Reform Commission launched a plan to enhance the business environment, taking advantage of the APEC opportunity. Key measures include facilitating work and daily life for foreign nationals, relaxing market access for foreign investors, improving customs clearance and capital efficiency, advancing cross-border data pilot programs, and deepening the alignment of judicial rules — all aimed at fully benchmarking against world-class international standards.

According to the 39th Global Financial Centres Index Report, Hong Kong ranks third among the world's top ten financial centres, Shenzhen ranks ninth, and Guangzhou jumps to 30th place. Hong Kong ranks first globally in the sub-categories of banking, financing, and insurance. Shenzhen excels in infrastructure and fintech, while Guangzhou ranks eighth globally in the fintech sub-category.

Positioning itself as a core engine of the Greater Bay Area (GBA), Guangzhou has introduced ten measures to optimize its business environment. These measures span smart government services, accelerated project approval processes, credit system empowerment, computing infrastructure development, and data factor marketization. They also promote the commercialization of scientific and technological achievements, flexible land supply, cross-border mutual recognition of talent qualifications, and low-altitude economy development. Through institutional innovation, Guangzhou seeks to enhance industrial coordination and regulatory alignment within the GBA.

In April 2026, the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin issued Several Measures to Support High-Quality Talent Development. Focusing on four areas—collaborative talent attraction under the "Macao + Hengqin" framework, talent clustering, platform development, and environment optimization—the measures offer a full range of policies including living and housing subsidies and project funding, aiming to establish a hub for top-tier international talent.

The plan sets targets by 2030: issuing 540 "Greater Bay Area Standards" and 500 "Greater Bay Area Certification" certificates to harmonize market rules and technical requirements across Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao, thereby reducing compliance barriers for cross-border trade and services. It also aims to lead or participate in 5,700 international standards and maintain the highest number of business entities nationwide, providing quality infrastructure to support GBA market integration.

Zhuhai has introduced low-altitude economy support measures featuring flexible land supply, FAR incentives, planning exemptions for takeoff/landing facilities, and "site-specific island supply" for uninhabited islands. These innovations lower entry barriers and asset costs for cross-city logistics, travel, and island applications in the Greater Bay Area.

The Guangdong Provincial Development and Reform Commission recently issued Several Measures to Support the Development of Individual Industrial and Commercial Businesses, introducing 15 measures across four areas: resource guarantees, cost reduction, service enhancement, and business expansion. Highlights include further relaxing industry restrictions for Hong Kong and Macao residents applying to establish such businesses in the Greater Bay Area, facilitating cross-border online services, and lowering entry barriers and operating costs.

Guangdong has issued the 2026 Work Plan for Optimizing a First-Class Law-Based Business Environment, introducing 17 measures across five key areas: improving the institutional framework, regulating law enforcement, ensuring judicial fairness, and strengthening legal services. The Plan aims to foster a stable, fair, transparent, and predictable legal environment to support high-quality development.

The Implementation Measures of the Qianhai Authority for Promoting High-Quality Development of Headquarters Enterprises (Shen Qian Hai Gui [2026] No. 3) took effect on March 13, 2026. It focuses on supporting industries such as information, finance, and logistics, providing comprehensive support including space and talent. The measures are valid for three years.