GUANGDONG, China, Sept. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Since the Tang Dynasty (618-907), Guangzhou in Guangdong Province has been a prominent port where Sino-foreign trade flourished, attracting numerous foreign merchants who traveled here along the Maritime Silk Road.
Following the founding of the People's Republic of China, Guangdong continued to serve as China's "trade window." To earn foreign exchange and meet the country's urgent demand for various imported materials necessary for large-scale economic construction, Guangdong capitalized on its geographical proximity to Hong Kong and Macao to host three export fairs from October 1955 to May 1956. In this context, officials from the former Ministry of Foreign Trade and the Guangdong Provincial Government considered hosting a national export fair in Guangzhou.
From April 25 to May 25, 1957, the first Canton Fair took place, covering an exhibition area of 9,600 square meters and showcasing 10,900 categories of goods. The event attracted 1,223 buyers from 19 countries and regions, achieving an export turnover of $17.54 million. Today, the Canton Fair stands as the longest-running and largest comprehensive international trade exhibition in China, often regarded as "China's No. 1 Exhibition." As of the first half of 2024, this grand event has successfully hosted 135 sessions, established trade relations with 229 countries and regions worldwide, achieved a cumulative export turnover of approximately $1.5 trillion, and attracted over 9.3 million overseas participants. The fair has significantly enhanced trade exchanges and fostered friendly ties between China and other countries and regions across the globe.
In 2015, the China (Guangdong) Pilot Free Trade Zone was established in Shenzhen, Guangdong, making it one of the second batch of pilot free trade zones approved in China. Johannes Jozef Bults, a Dutch entrepreneur engaged in import and export in the Qianhai and Shekou Area of Shenzhen, an integral part of the pilot free trade zone, noted that since the establishment of the zone, he has witnessed a continuous optimization of the business environment. "The government's support, from company registration to everyday operations, has made it incredibly convenient for entrepreneurs to do business here," he remarked.
Gu Qingyang, an associate professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore, expressed that China is currently at a critical stage of development. He anticipates that Guangdong will continue to embody the pioneering spirit of innovation and exploration, boldly venturing into avenues for high-quality development in China.
Since 2024, the term "new quality productive forces" has become a frequently discussed theme in economic plans across various sectors and regions in Guangdong. The province is dedicated to developing the manufacturing industry and prioritizing the real economy, aiming to build a modern industrial system with international competitiveness and accelerate the formation of "new quality productive forces." Additionally, Guangdong is committed to enhancing the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, focusing on strengthening major infrastructure connectivity, improving foreign trade cooperation, accelerating industrial investment, and promoting collaboration in marine sectors. The province is also working to continually improve its maritime, land, and air transportation while leading in institutional openness regarding rules, regulations, management, and standards within the Greater Bay Area.
The spirit of openness from the Maritime Silk Road continues to thrive. Today, Guangdong has become a microcosm of China's reform and opening-up, serving as a vital window for the world to understand and engage with China.
Contact: Mei Zhang
Tel.:0086-18611686759
E-mail: 1713543383@qq.com
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
From Maritime Silk Road Hub to "Trade Window": Guangdong's Continuous Push for Opening Up
SYDNEY, Oct. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The City of Austin has entered into a landmark contract with Archistar for the deployment of its innovative automated building permit assessment software. This 5-year contract represents a significant step forward in leveraging AI to streamline the city's building permit assessment processes.
Archistar, an industry leader in AI-driven property and planning solutions, has been at the forefront of digitizing planning and building codes for seven years. Originally based in Australia, Archistar has experienced overwhelming demand in North America, with Austin becoming the first U.S. City with a contract to fully implement Archistar's AI-powered platform after a successful three month pilot. Over 30 cities globally are now piloting or using Archistar to improve their permit assessment process.
"We are thrilled to be working with the City of Austin, a recognized leader in innovation within the U.S.," said Dr. Benjamin Coorey, Founder of Archistar. "Our AI technology will significantly improve approval times, reduce costs, and allow the city to focus on more complex evaluations, creating a more efficient and effective permit review process."
About Archistar eCheck
Archistar's eCheck technology plays a pivotal role in this transformation. The process begins when an applicant submits their design for a pre-check assessment before they apply for their permit. The eCheck platform reads the designs directly from the submitted drawings and evaluates the design against digitized planning and building codes. The outcome of this assessment is a comprehensive, standardised compliance report, which is then included with the permit application demonstrating compliance. This automated, data-driven process simplifies complex regulatory frameworks, enabling faster, more consistent decision-making for both applicants and city planning authorities.
Typical Challenges in Permitting
The process for reviewing and approving permits can be lengthy, especially when dealing with high volumes or complex projects. The permitting process continues to face a variety of challenges, including:
Benefits of Archistar's Platform
The pilot program proved the value of Archistar's eCheck technology, particularly in addressing the complexities of zoning bylaws within the permit assessment process. The full platform deployment promises further benefits, including:
The City of Austin faces challenges including managing complex zoning by laws and ensuring timely compliance in its permitting process. "With Archistar's platform, we will be able to provide faster and more informed feedback on building plans, and that's crucial in our journey to improve the development process," said José G. Roig, Director of Austin's Development Services Department. "The eCheck technology will transform the building plan review process, helping us deliver a smoother process for applicants and better service to our community."
The City of Austin continues to collaborate with Archistar, being one of ten cities to also participate in a pan-USA pilot focused on automating the International Building Code compliance review. This collaboration between key cities in the US, the International Code Council and Archistar is a project that will likely shape the future of building code permit assessment across the country.
Dr. Coorey added, "We're excited to partner with the City of Austin, and the benefits will extend to developers, homeowners, and city staff alike. Our platform's AI-driven capabilities are designed to not just streamline processes but to deliver a digital transformation resulting in more housing for the City."
About Archistar:
Archistar is a global leader in AI-driven property technology, specializing in automating zoning and building code compliance, 3D generative building design, and providing data-driven insights for city planning and property development. The company operates globally with clients across Australia, the U.S., Canada, and the Middle East.
For more information, visit www.archistar.ai.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Archistar Secures Contract with the City of Austin for Groundbreaking AI-Powered Automated Building Permit Assessment Platform
