Published by ChinaMNC · Boshan

Zibo Signals Push for Manufacturing-Service Integration: What Foreign Founders Should Know

Zibo's leadership has prioritized deeper integration of advanced manufacturing and modern services, with implications for foreign founders setting up or operating businesses in the city. Here is a practical look at the policy direction and what it may mean for your China operations.

Zibo Prioritizes Manufacturing-Service Integration

On September 21, Zibo's municipal government held a consultation meeting on a key proposal from the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) focused on accelerating the integration of the city's two major sectors—advanced manufacturing and modern services—to support the development of a modern industrial system.

The meeting was led by Ma Xiaolei, Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee, who supervised the proposal. Zhang Yanting, Chairman of the Municipal CPPCC, chaired the session. Other municipal leaders, including Li Xinsheng, Bi Hongwei, and Zhu Zhenglin, also attended.

For foreign founders, the meeting provides a clear signal of Zibo's policy priorities: moving manufacturing up the value chain and embedding modern services across the entire industrial chain. Understanding this direction can help you align your business plans with local government expectations.

What the Policy Direction Means

Ma Xiaolei described the integration of advanced manufacturing and modern services as a political task that must be fully implemented, a necessary path to expand development space, and a key lever for accelerating industrial transformation and upgrading.

He called on all levels of government to focus on the pain points and bottlenecks in industrial transformation and to use this integration as a "golden key." The goal is to push manufacturing toward higher-value-added segments and to embed modern services throughout the industrial chain, making Zibo's manufacturing smarter, its services more professional, and its industries more resilient.

Key Focus Areas for Businesses

The meeting outlined several specific directions that may affect foreign companies operating in or considering Zibo:

• Chain extension: The city plans to actively cultivate service sectors such as industrial design, technology research and development, and pilot-scale incubation. It also aims to develop service models including remote diagnostics, predictive maintenance, and equipment upgrades. Enterprises will be encouraged to shift from selling products and materials to selling services, operations and maintenance, and technology, moving product value from the "middle squeeze" toward "release at both ends."
• Digital and intelligent empowerment: Zibo will support small and medium-sized enterprises in intelligent transformation and digital upgrading, strengthen the software and information industry, and promote the construction of smart factories. Digital technologies are expected to deepen the integration of the two sectors.
• Quality environment: The city will strengthen the supply of policies, platforms, and talent to create an ecosystem conducive to integration. Departments are urged to adopt a "one chessboard" mindset, break down departmental barriers, and abandon local limitations, implementing policies in a closed-loop and systematic manner.

For foreign founders, these priorities suggest opportunities in industrial design, R&D services, digital solutions, and after-sales service models. If your company operates in these areas, aligning your business narrative with Zibo's integration goals could support engagement with local authorities and partners.

Political Context and Implementation

Ma Xiaolei also emphasized that CPPCC organizations at all levels should focus on the central tasks of serving the overall situation. They are expected to conduct research, carry out special consultations, exercise democratic supervision, and supervise proposal handling, thereby building consensus and pooling wisdom for Zibo's practice of Chinese-style modernization.

The Municipal Party Committee will continue to support CPPCC work, value proposal work, help solve difficulties, and create favorable conditions for the CPPCC to perform its functions.

While this political context may seem distant from day-to-day business, it indicates that the integration agenda has high-level backing—an important factor for policy continuity and implementation in China.

Site Visits and Enterprise Participation

Before the meeting, participants conducted on-site research at Shandong Tongguang Electronics Co., Ltd. and Hanqing Data Consulting Co., Ltd. These visits suggest that local enterprises in electronics and data consulting are already engaged in the integration process.

At the meeting, the Municipal Development and Reform Commission reported on the handling of the proposal. Representatives of the proposal submitter offered opinions and suggestions on the handling. Principal officials from relevant municipal departments and representatives of some enterprises and CPPCC members also spoke.

For foreign founders, these details show that the policy discussion involves both government departments and private enterprises. If you are considering Zibo as a location, engaging with local industry peers and understanding the practical experiences of companies like these could be valuable.

Practical Takeaways for Foreign Founders

Based on the official meeting, foreign founders registering or operating a company in Zibo should consider the following:

• Align with local priorities: The city is actively promoting the integration of manufacturing and services. If your business involves industrial design, technology R&D, pilot incubation, remote diagnostics, predictive maintenance, or digital transformation services, you may find a receptive policy environment.
• Monitor policy implementation: The meeting emphasized policy supply, platform supply, and talent supply. Keep an eye on how these commitments translate into concrete support measures for enterprises.
• Engage with local stakeholders: The involvement of the Development and Reform Commission, municipal departments, enterprises, and CPPCC members indicates a multi-stakeholder process. Building relationships with these groups can help you stay informed.
• Leverage digital transformation trends: Support for SME digital upgrading and smart factory construction may create demand for foreign technologies and expertise.

This article is based solely on the official government report of the meeting. No specific incentives, timelines, or guarantees for foreign investors were announced in the source. Founders should verify details with local authorities and professional advisors.

This summary is based on information published by the relevant Chinese government website and is general information, not legal or tax advice.