In a city long famed as the "world's supermarket," foreign businesspeople are no longer just visitors -- they are being officially recognized as vital drivers of China's future development.
Yiwu City, a bustling hub in east China's Zhejiang Province that trades with over 230 countries and regions, has launched China's first standardized system for formally certifying foreign trade talents.
The pilot program, launched in June, marks a shift away from traditional talent criteria that focus solely on education or technical credentials, instead rewarding foreign entrepreneurs for their real-world business contributions.
Under the new guidelines, any foreign national with a valid work permit and a registered company in Yiwu can be classified as 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 talent now enjoys two- to four-year work permits, rather than having to renew them annually. At the same time, A-level recognition offers five-year permits, along with priority services and faster approvals.
"Foreign businesses and investors are essential participants in China's modernization," said Wang Liqin, head of the talent and cooperation section at Yiwu's science and technology bureau. "This pilot program offers institutional support for their entrepreneurship and serves as a model of high-quality development in trade and foreign investment."
As of late June, over 609 foreign businesspeople in Yiwu had been certified under the program, part of a community of more than 8,600 foreign work permit holders that makes Yiwu the top city in Zhejiang for foreign employment.
Yiwu's decision to pioneer this reform reflects its long-standing international DNA. On any given day, more than 28,000 foreign merchants work in the city, a density unmatched in most of China.
For Sakhi Brahim, a Moroccan businessman who first learned about China at a Confucius Institute back home, Yiwu represents the ideal place to build a career bridging cultures.
"Foreigners are afraid of miscommunication," he said. "So I decided to be that bridge."
Brahim arrived in Yiwu in 2013 after studying at Beijing International Studies University. He now runs a kitchenware export business while helping Moroccan clients understand the Chinese market and ensuring local suppliers profit.
