More than 170 companies in the life and health sector gathered in south China’s Hainan Province to seek business opportunities following the establishment of the Hainan Free Trade Port.
Healthcare executives, investors and entrepreneurs from 19 countries and regions gathered in the island province's capital city Haikou on Tuesday to learn how the Free Trade Port could help them enter the Chinese market faster.
During the event, companies penned agreements in areas spanning medical equipment, healthcare services and elderly care.
International participants also visited several cities across the island to learn more about Hainan's business environment. Many noted the province's development left a strong impression.
"There's, I think, much bigger potential. You can see new products to test here to get quicker to the Chinese markets. So I'm very excited," said Floben Boden, communication director of Synerbridge Solutions, an asset management company.
Executives of international companies said the island’s latest policies could help speed up market access in the world’s second largest economy.
After years of preparation, the Free Trade Port officially launched independent customs operations in 2025, creating new opportunities for global companies looking to enter China and expand across Asia.
Business leaders also see long-term potential beyond policy support. They said Hainan's growing international business ecosystem could create more partnerships between Chinese and overseas companies.
"What we would like to do is to create a hub, a co-creation hub, so not only attracting Chinese companies, foreign companies into Hainan, but also helping Chinese companies engage with those foreign companies and then together going global," said Robin Peter Tensen, founder and CEO of GlobalTech IP, a leading innovation consultancy.
The guests also said Hainan could do more to leverage its tropical lifestyle to appeal to global investors.
Int'l healthcare companies gather in Hainan to explore deeper business opportunities
