Huai’an Rolls Out ‘Chain Service’ Mechanism to Boost Open Development

Summary

Huai'an has introduced a 'chain service' work mechanism targeting three areas: project attraction, industrial cooperation and corporate global expansion, aiming to turn foreign affairs and Hong Kong-Macao resources into concrete outcomes for open development. Since the start of this year, the city has approved 20 official overseas delegations involving 56 person-times, conducting business matchmaking in France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Australia, Norway and Sweden. Officials have been assigned to temporary posts at the Huai'an Economic and Technological Development Zone, while teams from various counties and districts have carried out targeted investment promotion in France and the Netherlands.

These efforts helped secure the signing of foreign-funded projects worth over RMB 100 million, including a Dutch genetic testing equipment manufacturing project and a French new aviation railway parts project. On industrial cooperation, Huai'an hosted the China-Europe (Huai'an) Auto Parts Industry Cooperation Exchange Meeting, where representatives from institutions and companies including Tongji University's German Studies Centre, NRW. Global Business, Bosch and FAW-Volkswagen held talks with local firms such as Shuanghuan Gear and Weibo Hydraulics.

The 2026 Huai'an High-end Talent Elite Competition International Round was held in Hong Kong, with 24 high-quality projects competing; six projects reached preliminary landing intentions, and the Huai'an-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Transformation Base was unveiled. An event for young European and American talents to visit Huai'an was also organised, matching more than 50 PhDs and postdoctoral researchers with local enterprises. On corporate global expansion services, the approval time for foreign nationals' invitations to China has been cut to two working days, among the fastest in the province.

Nearly 300 APEC Business Travel Cards have been issued over the past three years. Since the start of this year, more than 10 visits have been made to over 30 foreign-related enterprises, foreign-related legal risk training has been provided, and multilingual translation support has been offered to key foreign-funded enterprises such as Scharf.

Commentary

Huai'an's 'chain service' mechanism systematically embeds foreign affairs resources into the entire process of investment promotion, industrial matchmaking and corporate global expansion. This government-led international service model deserves attention from New Zealand SMEs. On project attraction, Huai'an focuses on industries such as biomedicine and next-generation information technology, conducting business matchmaking in France, the Netherlands, New Zealand and other countries, and facilitating the landing of foreign-funded projects such as a Dutch genetic testing equipment manufacturing project and a French new aviation railway parts project.

For New Zealand companies, Huai'an's cooperation needs in advanced manufacturing and medical technology may offer an entry point for technologically advantaged SMEs to access China's Yangtze River Delta market. At the industrial cooperation level, Huai'an hosted the China-Europe Auto Parts Industry Cooperation Exchange Meeting, connecting with companies such as Bosch and FAW-Volkswagen, and promoting talks between local firms like Shuanghuan Gear and Weibo Hydraulics and European institutions. This reflects how China's second- and third-tier cities are actively integrating into global supply chains, particularly seeking technological upgrading in areas such as auto parts and new energy.

New Zealand has innovative companies in niche areas such as automotive electronics and lightweight materials, and they could watch for cooperation opportunities arising from such local industrial matchmaking platforms. On corporate global expansion services, Huai'an has cut the approval time for foreign nationals' invitations to China to two working days, issued nearly 300 APEC Business Travel Cards over the past three years, and provided foreign-related legal training and translation support for enterprises. This efficient government support reduces the institutional costs of international business exchanges and offers a reference for New Zealand SMEs exploring the Chinese market.

However, the actual effectiveness of local foreign affairs service mechanisms still depends on industrial alignment and sustained execution. New Zealand companies need to carefully assess cooperation potential by matching their own technological strengths with Huai'an's leading industries.

Keywords: chain service, Huai'an, foreign affairs and Hong Kong-Macao resources, official overseas visits, investment promotion, corporate global expansion, APEC Business Travel Card, China-Europe auto parts cooperation

Summary in Chinese | 摘要

淮安市创新打造“链式服务”工作机制，围绕项目招引、产业合作、企业出海三大方向，推动外事港澳资源优势转化为开放发展实效。今年以来，全市共审批因公出访团组20批56人次，赴法国、荷兰、新西兰、澳大利亚、挪威、瑞典等国家开展经贸对接；选派干部下沉淮安经济技术开发区挂职，联动各县区赴法国、荷兰靶向招商，促成荷兰基因检测设备制造、法国新航铁路配件等亿元外资项目落地签约。在产业合作方面，成功举办中欧（淮安）汽车零部件产业合作交流会，同济大学德国研究中心、德国北威州国际商务署、博世、一汽大众等机构和企业代表与双环齿轮、威博液压等本土企业洽谈；在香港举办2026淮安高端人才精英赛国际赛，24个优质项目同台比拼，6个项目达成初步落地意向，同步揭牌淮安香港科创转化基地；组织欧美青年人才淮安行活动，50余名博士、博士后与本地企业精准匹配。

在企业出海服务方面，外国人来华邀请审批时限压缩至2个工作日，办理效率位居全省前列，近三年累计办理APEC商旅卡近300张；今年以来先后10余次走访30余家涉外企业，开展涉外法律风险培训，为施尔丰等重点外资企业提供多语种翻译保障。

Commentary in Chinese | 评论

淮安市推出的“链式服务”机制，将外事资源系统性地嵌入招商引资、产业对接和企业出海全流程，这种政府主导的国际化服务模式值得新西兰中小企业关注。从项目招引看，淮安聚焦生物医药、新一代信息技术等产业，赴法国、荷兰、新西兰等国开展经贸对接，并促成荷兰基因检测设备制造、法国新航铁路配件等外资项目落地。对于新西兰企业而言，淮安在先进制造、医疗科技领域的合作需求，可能为具备技术优势的新西兰中小企业提供进入中国长三角市场的切入点。

在产业合作层面，淮安举办中欧汽车零部件产业合作交流会，对接博世、一汽大众等企业，并推动本地双环齿轮、威博液压等与欧洲机构洽谈。这反映出中国二三线城市正在积极融入全球供应链，尤其在汽车零部件、新能源等领域寻求技术升级。新西兰在汽车电子、轻量化材料等细分领域有创新企业，可关注此类地方性产业对接平台带来的合作机会。

企业出海服务方面，淮安将外国人来华邀请审批压缩至2个工作日，近三年办理APEC商旅卡近300张，并为企业提供涉外法律培训和翻译保障。这种高效的政务支持降低了国际商务往来的制度成本，对新西兰中小企业探索中国市场具有参考价值。不过，地方性外事服务机制的实际效果仍取决于产业匹配度和持续执行力，新西兰企业需结合自身技术优势与淮安主导产业的契合度，审慎评估合作潜力。

关键词: 链式服务, 淮安, 外事港澳资源, 因公出访, 招商引资, 企业出海, APEC商旅卡, 中欧汽车零部件合作

Source: Huai'an Municipal People's Government