China’s Guangzhou city has announced the scope of its proposed Free-Trade Zone (FTZ) plan in its unified Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau FTZ application.

Guangzhou Mayor Chen Jianhua told a press conference last week that in the application submitted to the State Council, two areas totaling 15.2 square kilometres were added to the proposed FTZ. These are the 7.8 square kilometre Nansha Bonded Zone, to the south of the city, and the 7.4 square kilometre Baiyun Airport Economic Zone, which lies in the north. The former includes a port, while the latter features Guangzhou’s international airport.

The Guangzhou FTZ lists logistics, manufacturing, land development and finance as its key industries.  Although other parts of the Nansha New Area and the South Railway Station area have not been included, Guangzhou’s contribution to the entire Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau FTZ is larger than many had originally predicted.

“We hope the application will get approved soon. We will actively work on the application,” Chen said.

“After the launch of the first Pilot Free-Trade Zone in Shanghai, the State has requested clearly that FTZs have to be replicable and spreadable,” Chen added.

ALB’s Guangzhou In-House Legal Summit, to be held at the Guangzhou Marriot Hotel in Tianhe District, is set to discuss this and other hot-button issues. It is free for in-house counsel, who can register here.

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