东莞变形记

A City's Metam orphosis

东莞正在发生近三十年来最重大的一次变革。这场变革具体发生在经济领域,实则将会影响到各个层面的发展,乃至整座城市的未来面貌都将与此息息相关——11002家加工贸易企业正在轰轰烈烈地转型升级中。

Dongguan, a city located in the Pearl River Delta which has led the way in China's opening-up in the last three decades, is experiencing the most significant change. The 11,002 processing trade enterprises in this city are striving to speed up their transformation and upgrading. This will change the whole city, from the economy to the daily life. The transformation was launched in 2007 by the local government and coordinated by the customs authority. Then Donguan was chosen to be one of the two iconic cities for transformation and upgrading in November 2010. It has been going through a key transitional period in 2011. If the city succeeds in transformation, its experiences will be shared by more cities and enterprises around the country. But the transformation will not be easy. The enterprises have to make choices. Some of them may update themselves and become stronger. Others may leave Dongguan or just close down. Each firm is the architect of its own fate. The authorities are also engaged in this cause. The GACC has already signed a memo with Guangdong government to boost the enterprises' transformation by improving customs clearance services. Huangpu customs has also hammered out several measures to help the enterprises. China Customs will play a vital role in the transformation of Dongguan.