Yiwu City, long known as the “world’s supermarket,” no longer sees foreign businesspeople merely as visitors but officially recognizes them as vital drivers of China’s future development. Located in east China’s Zhejiang Province and trading with over 230 countries and regions, Yiwu has launched China’s first standardized system for formally certifying foreign trade talents.
Launched in June as a pilot program, this initiative shifts away from traditional talent criteria based solely on education or technical qualifications, instead rewarding foreign entrepreneurs for their actual business contributions. According to the new guidelines, any foreign national with a valid work permit and a registered company in Yiwu can be classified as either A or B-level talent if they meet key performance metrics such as import-export volume, job creation, or long-term local operations. B-level talents receive two- to four-year work permits, while A-level talents enjoy five-year permits along with priority services and faster approvals.
Wang Liqin, head of the talent and cooperation section at Yiwu’s Science and Technology Bureau, said, “Foreign businesses and investors are essential participants in China’s modernization.” She emphasized that the pilot program provides institutional support for their entrepreneurship and serves as a model for high-quality development in trade and foreign investment. As of late June, more than 609 foreign businesspeople in Yiwu had been certified under the program, making Yiwu the top city in Zhejiang for foreign employment with over 8,600 foreign work permit holders.