Mainland China’s Fujian province has rolled out another round of preferential policies in a bid to encourage Taiwanese to work in sectors such as EV batteries, medical instruments and broadcasting. A policy document released on Thursday laid out 17 measures that aim to support cross-strait exchanges, state broadcaster CCTV reported, as the southeastern coastal province – which has close geographical and cultural links to Taiwan – continues to act as a test bed for the mainland’s push for economic, social and political integration with the island. In the Fujian city of Ningde, at least 100 positions will be created annually over the next three years for Taiwanese to work in the lithium battery industry. People with bachelor’s degrees or above will be eligible for an annual subsidy of 50,000 yuan (US$6,900) for up to three years, according to the document. In the city of Putian, incentives will be provided to entice Taiwanese biopharmaceutical enterprises to establish operations in a designated industrial estate that could include access to free research and development and trial production sites.
Under the policy, individuals who accept offers to work in the medical industry could qualify for rent subsidies of up to 50 per cent at state-owned housing in two districts. A pilot project has also been designed to incentivise Taiwanese businesses to invest in and set up radio and television production companies. According to the document, applications will be simplified and approval waiting times shortened.
More than a decade ago, in an effort to foster deep cross-strait economic ties or political loyalty, Beijing started introducing preferential policies for Taiwanese people who seek to study or work in Fujian, which was declared as a “model zone for integrated development” in 2023. A 21-point plan issued in September 2023 aimed to create shared industrial standards, nurture social integration and encourage more Taiwanese to visit Fujian, with a goal of “substantial progress” by 2025. Since the 1980s, Taiwanese entrepreneurs have flocked to mainland China, with many settling in Fujian, drawn by market potential and preferential policies. As early as 2009, Beijing issued a directive to boost “economic integration” between Fujian and Taiwan by 2020. In 2018, President Xi Jinping called on Fujian to explore a new path for integrated development with the island.
The latest preferential policies also aim to encourage Taiwanese industrial design companies to operate in Fujian, with rewards of up to 5 million yuan (US$688,000) for those recognised as national research institutes. Enterprises from the Taiwanese-controlled Matsu islands will be encouraged to operate businesses in Fuzhou, the capital of Fujian, with a five-year subsidy for renting a factory or business space in a designated industrial estate. The incentive package is part of the 2023 integration plan, which intends to create interconnected living circles between Fuzhou and Matsu, which are just 20km (12 miles) apart. Taiwanese agricultural and fishery enterprises, as well as horticultural operations, could also be eligible for subsidies with qualifying projects.
SCMP
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