In a bid to further attract and utilize foreign investment while driving the high-quality development of headquarters economies, the Department of Commerce of Guangdong Province has recently upgraded its policy support. Under the new measures, eligible multinational headquarters and related institutions established in Dongguan can receive a one-time reward of up to RMB 8 million, injecting strong momentum into the development of foreign-invested enterprises in the city.
It is reported that in May 2024, the Department of Commerce issued the Special Implementation Plan for Guangdong Province to Further Expand Efforts to Attract and Utilize Foreign Investment (Y.S.W.G.Z [2024] No. 3), which provided a reward of RMB 5 million for qualifying regional headquarters and headquarters-type institutions of multinational corporations. In July 2025, the Implementation Ruleson Rewarding the Upgrading of Multinational Headquarters in Guangdong Province (Y.S.W.G.Z [2025] No. 3) were released, raising the reward ceiling to RMB 8 million for entities recognized as China headquarters, Asia-Pacific headquarters, or global divisional headquarters, further amplifying the policy dividends.
The policy applies to market entities legally registered in Dongguan and recognized by provincial commerce authorities as multinational regional headquarters, headquarters-type institutions, China headquarters, Asia-Pacific headquarters, or global divisional headquarters. Clear criteria have been set for different categories. For example, multinational regional headquarters must hold independent legal-person status, have paid-in registered capital of no less than USD 2 million, and the overseas parent company must have total assets of at least USD 200 million (USD 100 million for service enterprises). They must also be authorized to manage no fewer than three independent legal entities in China or abroad, with at least one located outside Guangdong. China headquarters and Asia-Pacific headquarters require paid-in registered capital of no less than USD 10 million, annual turnover exceeding RMB 1 billion, and a parent company with total assets of at least USD 500 million, in addition to meeting executive residence and employee requirements. Global divisional headquarters must have registered capital of at least USD 5 million and annual turnover of no less than RMB 500 million, with other core conditions broadly consistent with those for regional headquarters.
In terms of reward standards, the policy specifies two categories of support:
In terms of incentive amounts, the policy provides two categories of financial support. Recognized multinational regional headquarters or headquarters-type institutions with registered offices in Dongguan that achieve an annual increase of at least USD 10 million in actual foreign investment are eligible for a one-time reward of RMB 5 million each. Qualified multinational China headquarters, Asia-Pacific headquarters, and global divisional headquarters in Dongguan that achieve an annual increase of at least USD 10 million in actual foreign investment are eligible for up to RMB 8 million in reward funding. Here, “actual foreign investment” refers to the amount of capital paid in or converted to registered capital by foreign investors via four channels: overseas foreign currency remittance, cross-border RMB, reinvestment of profits, and capital reserve, as verified and published by the commerce authorities.
It is worth noting that applicant enterprises must operate legally and in compliance, with no serious violations in product safety, tax integrity, environmental protection, or work safety in the past three years. They must also guarantee the authenticity and validity of their application materials. Companies intending to apply may consult the Guidelines for the Fourth Batch of Applications for Multinational Regional Headquarters/Headquarters-Type Institutions in Guangdong Province in advance to prepare the required documents, which can then be submitted once the new round of applications is opened by the Department of Commerce of Guangdong Province.
For further inquiries, enterprises may consult the Bureau of Commerce of Dongguan City by phone at 0769-22816916 or 0769-21668361, or visit the Foreign Investment Administration Division and/or the Foreign Economic Cooperation Division on the fourth floor of the Bureau’s office building at No. 33, Guantai Road.
