Guangzhou is home to Baiyun Airport, China’s 3^rd biggest airport, and successfully won the bidding of World Routes 2018. As for the Baiyun Airport, the main part of Terminal 2 had been sealed roof, and feasibility report for Runways 4 and 5 and Terminal 3 had been started. Yesterday morning, Launch of Investment Environment Report on Guangzhou Airport Economic Demonstration Zone & Exhibition of the Achievements of Building International Aviation Hub was held in Guangzhou Baiyun International Convention Center. Guangzhou’s vice mayor Cai Chaolin addressed the meeting. Leaders of nearly 50 international and domestic high-end renowned enterprises near airports, foreign consulates general in Guangzhou, and Baiyun Airport port inspection institutions attended the meeting.

Capturing the commanding point in global urban competition

Guangzhou attaches great attention to the construction of international aviation hub and regards that as the main point to echo the country’s Belt and Road strategy and one of the three strategic hubs in the city’s future development, said Cai Chaolin. Accelerating the construction of international aviation hub will be of critical importance to Guangzhou's improvement of abilities in distributing international high-end resources and elements, and occupation of the commanding point in global urban competition. Guangzhou is home to Baiyun Airport, China’s 3^rd biggest airport. Last year, Baiyun Airport achieved passenger throughput of nearly 60 million. Its Terminal 2 is under construction, and the feasibility report improvement for its Runways 4 and 5 is being accelerated. At the end of last year, Guangzhou was approved to establish a state-level airport economic demonstration zone. Guangzhou Airport Economic Demonstration Zone(GADEZ) will receive more policy support. GADEZ will develop into an important engine and pillar for the city, hopeful extend the industrial chain from the aspects of talent, cargoes and machines to integrate more competitive resources. 

GADEZ Administrative Commission’s Director Sun Xiuqing introduced the zone in English fluently. In 2016, GADEZ had made a rapid start and a series new progresses and achievements in platform strategy, hub function, comprehensive traffic, airport industry and investment promotion thanks to the attention and concern of the country, province and municipality, said Sun. With the approval for developing the state-level airport economic demonstration zone, GADEC, as the core carrier and key point for CPC Guangzhou Committee and Guangzhou Municipal Government to build an international comprehensive traffic hub and state central city, will enjoy continuous development advantages from the macro strategy deployment, and become a center pooling global high-end talent, cargoes, information, funds and technology and the “investment lowland” and “development highland” for noted domestic and foreign enterprises. “2017 will be the hardworking year of GADEC to prepare for takeoff. We’ll care for the move-in enterprises with more favorable policies, more professional services and more efficient business environment,” Sun said.

New development in eight aspects

Sun Xiuqing summarized the new development of Guangzhou International Aviation Hub and Airport Economic Zone last year from eight aspects as follows.

The platform strategy made new improvement. In December 2016, GADEC received the approval from NDRC and CAAC. The “five major plans” was approved by the National Aviation Hub Construction Steering Group. The development blueprint is completed, and the airport economic zone becomes a state strategy.

New hub functions were strengthened. Baiyun Airport, the main part of Terminal 2 had been sealed roof, and feasibility report for Runways 4 and 5 and Terminal 3 had been started. Guangzhou successfully won the bidding of World Routes 2018. The FBO project has been started. The peak hour capacity of Baiyun Airport was improved from 65 to 71 flights. In 2016, the airport’s passenger throughput was nearly 60 million, up 8% year on year, ranking the 16^th among global airports and higher than Singapore Changi Airport; and its cargo throughput was 1.65 million tons, up 6.5% year on year.

New progresses were made in comprehensive traffic. The north section of the 2^nd Airport Expressway started construction, and the connection line to T2 was positioned. Inter-city railways including Guangqing, Guangfohuan, Suiguanshen and Xinbaiguang lines and Huaguan Expressway, Subway Line 9 are under construction at a higher speed. The construction of the Terminal Section of the Suiguanshen Intercity Railway was completed.

Airport industry made new progresses. The construction of a group of flagship projects including China-Australia- New Zealand Free Trade Industrial Park, Headquarters Economy Park and Suijia Logistics South China Hub has been started. Airport cross-border E-commerce continues its leading advantage. Airplane leasing made a breakthrough, seeing the delivery of Airbus’s A330 with value of nearly $100 million. The annual revenue of Guangzhou airplane maintenance industrial base is about 2.5 billion yuan, up 15% year on year. STAG’s Passenger Plane to Cargo Plane Refitting Project is determined to settle down in GADEC.

The construction of start-up zone had new breakthroughs. The control plan for the start-up zone was approved by the municipal planning commission unanimously. The plan for the start-up zone’s development, land requisition, removal and relocation was formulated with Huadu District.

The appearance of airport had new improvement. The rearrangement of Baiyun Airport’s international arrival process was completed. Dozens of renovation and site improvement projects including wall grid cleaning, vegetation and toilets received certain achievements.

Investment promotion had new achievements. Negotiation on more than 100 new projects were started. Strategic and investment agreements were signed with YTO Express, Minsheng E-commerce, China Air Cargo Corporation, DHL and Baoneng with the planned total investment of 26.95 billion yuan. FedEx Corporation registered an independent corporate company in GADEC.

GADEC has new advantages in accelerating development. GADEC took the lead in inspection fee reform among nationwide airport ports, launched cross-border E-commerce healthy and rapid development policy and other supportive policies, continued boosting Three-Mutual Greater Port Clearance reform and international trade’s Single Window development, and obviously improved trade facilitation.

Source: Translated from Invest Guangzhou, April 5, 2017