Shantou Well-developed Open-up Economy

Well-developed Open-up Economy

　　Since reform and opening up, Shantou has fully taken the advantage of being an SEZ and the hometown of overseas Chinese, so its economy has got tremendous growth. The annual increase in GDP averages a 14.2%, annual increase in industrial and agricultural output value 17.1 %, and annual increase in import and export value averages 9.5%. The highest export value in history is 4.23 billion dollars.

　　The city has an accumulative contract foreign investment of US$10.697 billion, among which the actual foreign investment utilization amounts to US$7.637 billion and has become one of "Top 50 Chinese Cities in Economy". With the sound development of agriculture, Shantou has shaped its six main lines namely grain, vegetable, livestock products, aquaculture, fruits and tea, flowers and plants. While there has been grown in some fields, for example, science-technology-guided, export-oriented, multi-functional and comprehensive module, the city's main industries are ultrasonic electronics, petrochemical, textiles, machinery, foodstuffs, pharmaceutical, printing and packing, handicrafts, etc. As a result, Shantou has now built an open system, having business relations with 165 countries and regions in the world. Foreign enterprises and businessmen are attracted to invest in Shantou. Dozens of "World Top 500 Enterprises" including Chevron Texaco, Kodak, Henkel, Mitsubishi and Wal-mart have founded their bases in Shantou. International exchange and cooperation between Shantou and the other countries in the world are becoming brisk. Shantou city has contracted friendly relationship with Kishiwada, Osaka Presecture of Japan and St. John, New Brunswick of Canada.