Xinhua News
Haikou – As China’s Hainan Free Trade Port continues to attract global attention, foreign entrepreneurs are increasingly finding success and support. One such inspiring story is that of Muhammad Aamir Shehzad, a young Pakistani entrepreneur who has become a well-known figure in Sanya’s Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City.
Fluent in both Chinese and English, Aamir provides daily guidance to foreigners seeking to start businesses, obtain China work visas, or open bank accounts in Hainan. Locals affectionately call him a “walking guidebook.”
Aamir, born in the 1990s, came to China to study medicine in Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province in 2015. While studying, he discovered a growing demand for pink Himalayan salt from Pakistan in Chinese markets. Sensing a business opportunity, he co-founded a company to import and distribute the product in China.
“I never imagined that salt from my hometown would become so popular,” Aamir recalled.
After completing his education, he briefly returned to Pakistan but soon realized that China had become a second home — thanks to its friends, food, and scenic beauty. In 2022, encouraged by Chinese friends, Aamir turned his attention to the Hainan Free Trade Port, attracted by its favorable business policies and natural charm.
He registered a new company in Yazhou, specializing in agricultural products like coconut oil, and also launched a consulting firm to help other foreigners navigate Chinese regulations, visas, and entrepreneurship.
Aamir praised the efficient services and supportive policies of the tech city. “All my applications were processed quickly and smoothly,” he said.
In recent years, Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City has introduced numerous policies to promote innovation and foreign entrepreneurship. Its Talent Service Center offers over 100 services — including work permits, business licensing, and legal support — often completed within a single day.
“When we have questions, we contact the enterprise service team,” Aamir shared. “They usually respond within 24 hours, whether it’s about policy interpretation or execution.”
Policies such as duty-free processing of imported goods and fast-track intellectual property filings help businesses reduce costs and boost competitiveness.
To further support international startups in China, the tech city launched a special incubator called “Dream Launch Pad,” which allows foreign companies to register within 3 days and enjoy 2 years of free shared office space with full support services. So far, 32 foreign companies have benefited from the program.
One of Aamir’s Pakistani friends, Shujaat Khan, worked in Aamir’s company for a year before launching his own business — successfully exporting Chinese products to Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and other markets — thanks to Aamir’s guidance and the city’s support.
Aamir’s journey has come full circle: from importing Pakistani goods into China to now exporting Chinese products to the global market. Smiling, he said, “I see myself as a bridge between China and Pakistan.”
He regularly attends trade expos to promote both Chinese and Pakistani products.
“I hope to become a true bridge of friendship between China and Pakistan and introduce more people to both Hainan and my home country.”
In his free time, Aamir enjoys working out at the tech city gym and watching sunsets on the nearby beach. “Hainan has become my second home,” he said. “I want more foreigners who love this place to come, settle down, and turn their dreams into reality.”
