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Efficiency will save SZ: mayor
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Han Ximin and Dong Haitao
PREFERENTIAL policies are no longer enough to attract more foreign investment to Shenzhen; a profound and more effective method can be found in standardizing government management and improving efficiency, Mayor Yu Youjun told reporters following a meeting on improving government efficiency and optimizing the investment environment on Wednesday.
“A lot of cities in the nation are doing everything they can to promise preferential land use rights or tax exemptions to lure investors. I don't believe that will help us much and I don't believe we can live without taxation," Yu said.
The Wednesday meeting, attended by the city's key leaders form both municipal and district levels, is said to be a new milestone for Shenzhen to standardize administration and keep government operations in full accordance with international practice, especially after the country's accession to the WTO.
The mayor, who took up his post only 10 months ago, said that globally speaking, investments are becoming concentrated in a small number of countries and regions whose governments value high efficiency. “It would be an empty slogan for us to raise competitiveness if we fail to improve our efficiency," he said.
He stressed that he hopes to improve his government's image and the city's comprehensive competitiveness through reforms of the examination and approval system.
Yu said that as the country's first special economic zone and one of its most active export-oriented economies, Shenzhen should take the lead nationwide and use international standards as the guideline in daily administrative work.
“An efficient, creative, and at the same time incorruptible government will guarantee the success of our great socialist course,” Yu said.
Improving government efficiency is urgently needed as Shenzhen drives to achieve modernization.
Yu told reporters that in the middle of last year, he received a complaint from an overseas investor who claimed he had collected a few dozen stamps from various government agencies for his application to start an enterprise in the city. After nearly six months, he was still waiting for the final go-ahead. Yu was startled by the low efficiency and vowed to put an end to the situation.
“I have received many other complaints from foreign investors about the government's bureaucratic practices and low efficiency. I have reasons to believe that most of our civil servants are efficient and competent. But those who are not up to standard have tarnished the image of Shenzhen," said Yu, adding the low efficiency has harmed Shenzhen's investment environment.
“Since many cities in the country have stipulated preferential policies and incentives in attracting foreign investments, Shenzhen's advantage in attracting foreign investment has faded away in recent years. We've got this sense of crisis: we must improve efficiency to become more competitive," said the mayor.
It was told that 13 government departments, the Shenzhen Customs House and the Shenzhen Quarantine Inspection Bureau promised to the public at the Wednesday meeting to simplify 92 approving procedures and 80 verification items. The reform of the examination and approval system is expected to be finished by June.
Yu said local supervisory and discipline inspection departments will trace progress and sanction those who fail to meet their goals.
“Those municipal bureaus who fail to finish all the procedures within the promised dates cannot shove responsibilities and will be punished according to concerned rules and regulations,” Yu said.
All bureaus have also been ordered to create official websites, so as to enhance transparency and accept complaints from various circles in society.
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