Chongqing - The 18th Meeting of the Chongqing Mayor's International Economic Advisory Council (CMIA) will be held on September 26-27 in Chongqing and feature its newest advisor, CK Asset Holdings Limited.

It is known locally for its Watsons brand. With 109 stores in the city, Watsons is a popular destination for foreign cosmetics and plans to open six more stores in 2024.

A Watsons store in Chongqing. (Photo/Zheng Ran)

At the 17th Annual Meeting of the CMIA, advisors presented 48 recommendations to establish Chongqing as an inland hub for openness and foreign trade. The advisory panel serves as a global platform to attract investment and technology, fostering economic cooperation.

The advisory group's efforts supported Chongqing's commitment to "buy global, sell global." Jardine Matheson's investment in Yonghui Superstores, thriving since its 2014 acquisition, exemplifies this success. Today, Yonghui is a popular destination for a wide range of imported goods.

Additionally, the Ring shopping mall, developed by Hong Kong Land, has become a key shopping destination in Chongqing's Liangjiang New Area. Hong Kong Land is a subsidiary of Jardine Matheson's Group.

The Ring shopping mall in Chongqing's Yubei District. (Photo/Zheng Ran)

The advisory group also emphasized Chongqing's burgeoning international logistics network, highlighted by the China Railway Express (Yuxinou), which directly links Chongqing to Europe.

Hewlett-Packard (HP) has utilized this route to export "Chongqing-made" laptops more efficiently. Yuxinou emerged as a key channel for HP laptop exports. These laptops have become a key driver of Chongqing's foreign trade, representing over 60% of the total value of the city's foreign trade goods.

HP Chongqing office. (Photo/Xiyong Microelectronics Park)

A notable achievement was the 400 millionth "Chongqing-made" HP computer produced at the Xiyong Microelectronics Industrial Park. As the first computer brand to establish operations in Chongqing, HP has facilitated the entry of major laptop brands like Acer, Asus, Dell, and Lenovo, along with various upstream and downstream enterprises, into the city. 

Most of these companies are now based in Xiyong Microelectronics Industrial Park, where one in every four laptops globally is labeled "Made in Xiyong."

SK Group has set up the park's largest overseas chip packaging and testing facility, enhancing its status as a global hub for chip technology. These two key consultants have transformed Xiyong Microelectronics Industrial Park into a crucial platform for Chongqing's technological growth.

As part of ongoing efforts, Chongqing is advancing the construction of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor (ILSTC), which has facilitated HP's export in Southeast Asia. 

Ford Motor, another key advisory partner, is actively supporting the Yuxinou line. Changan Ford's auto parts were the inaugural cargo for the return train on this route, and the company continues to use the Yuxinou line for transporting these parts.

Chongqing's Guoyuan Port National Logistics Hub has also benefited from advisory consultations. In December, the Guoyuan Port National Logistics Hub inaugurated its first crane, a 1,000-ton bridge machine, enabling the shipment of a 423-ton transformer produced by ABB Chongqing Transformer Co., Ltd. This marked a record for the heaviest single piece lifted at Chongqing port. 

Officials from the Chongqing Liangjiang New Area noted that this terminal is the largest lifting-capacity pier upstream of the Yangtze River. This hub aims to further leverage its strengths to export Chongqing-made products globally.