1 out of 6.5 Zhejiang Residents is an Entrepreneur; Global Zhejiang Merchants Will Gather Again in Their Hometown to Seek “High-tech and Innovation”
On November 25, The Paper (www.thepaper.cn) learned from a press conference held by the Information Office of the Zhejiang Provincial Government that the 7th World Zhejiang Merchants Conference, themed “Pioneering with Quality, Ascending to New Heights and Writing a New Chapter,” will open in Hangzhou on the 28th.
Press Conference for the 7th World Zhejiang Merchants Conference. Photo by Yang Jiayin, a reporter from The Paper.
According to the introduction, the Standing Committee of the Zhejiang Provincial People’s Congress is studying a decision on vigorously promoting the entrepreneurial spirit and strengthening the construction of the entrepreneurial team, which will be released at the conference after being reviewed and approved.
Zhejiang is a major province for the private economy. In March of this year, Wang Hao, then the Governor of Zhejiang Province (currently the Secretary and Governor of Zhejiang Province), revealed at a series of themed press conferences on “Promoting High-Quality Development” held by the State Council Information Office that the number of market entities in the province reached 10.4 million, equivalent to one boss for every 6.5 Zhejiang residents. By the end of last year, the private economy contributed 67.2% of Zhejiang’s GDP, 71.7% of its tax revenue, 80.2% of its imports and exports, 87.5% of its employment, and accounted for 96.9% of its market entities. Zhejiang has led the nation for 25 consecutive years in the number of enterprises listed in the “Top 500 Chinese Private Enterprises.” In the five lists, including the “2024 Top 500 Chinese Private Enterprises,” recently released by the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, Zhejiang topped the nation in the number of listed enterprises, achieving a grand slam for the first time in recent years.
The World Zhejiang Merchants Conference is the largest, highest-level, and most influential gathering of Zhejiang merchants, and it is also an important stage to showcase the resilience and vitality of the private economy. The first conference was held in 2011. It is reported that this conference will feature the World Zhejiang Merchants Forum and multiple thematic events, inviting over 1,500 guests, including more than 1,320 representatives of Zhejiang merchants from around the world. A batch of “Leading Enterprises in High-Quality Development” samples will be released, and a ceremony for “Zhejiang Merchants Taking Flight Again like Eagles” will be held. There will also be a segment called “Passing the Torch to the Future,” where the older generation of Zhejiang merchants will share their messages, and an initiative will be issued to promote the high-quality growth of the younger generation of private economic figures.
Meanwhile, attracting major and strong projects is an important part of the conference, and the total investment amount of projects expected to be signed during the conference is higher than that of previous editions. Among the thematic events, the promotion of high-quality development in the marine economy aims to facilitate the integrated development of the private economy and the marine economy, jointly promoting the construction of a strong marine province. The “Zhejiang Merchants Returning to Their Hometown” series of activities further serve Zhejiang merchants in “going out” and “bringing in.” The special event on empowering Zhejiang merchants with data intellectual property for new leaps and the Zhejiang Merchants Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum emphasize practical results and empower the development of Zhejiang merchants.
