pk-china-user Located in east China’s Zhejiang Province, Yiwu is a vibrant county-level city widely known as the “world’s supermarket,” with more than 80,000 shops.
Beyond its strong commercial reputation, Yiwu has developed into a dynamic international hub attracting entrepreneurs from across the globe, as reported by People’s Daily.
The city has become a stage for diverse global success stories. A Pakistani doctoral student in medicine has ventured into business by launching a consulting firm; a Turkish investor has established three companies over the past decade and continues expanding his trade operations; and a Syrian entrepreneur has opened two specialty restaurants. These examples highlight the growing number of foreign investment stories taking shape in this thriving city.
Yiwu’s transformation into an international marketplace began in the late 1980s with the establishment of its first foreign-funded enterprise. Since then, the city has steadily advanced reforms and expanded its openness. By cultivating a business environment that is market-driven, law-based, and internationally oriented, Yiwu has attracted global talent and resources.
Today, the city hosts more than 10,000 foreign-funded enterprises from over 160 countries and regions, covering 14 sectors, including trade services and modern logistics.
Among these entrepreneurs is Ali Kamran, a Pakistani national who arrived in China in 2007 for his studies and has lived there ever since. In July 2023, he began pursuing a doctoral degree in medicine at the International School of Medicine at Zhejiang University in Yiwu.
Kamran recalled that once people learned he was based in Yiwu, he began receiving frequent inquiries about sourcing markets, cross-border e-commerce, and logistics solutions. Recognizing a business opportunity, he established a consulting firm in July last year, which became the city’s 10,000th foreign-funded enterprise.
He noted the ease of doing business in Yiwu, highlighting the efficiency of the licensing process. His company now operates as a trade service platform connecting China and Pakistan, offering one-stop sourcing solutions for buyers in the Middle East and Africa, while also helping Yiwu-based businesses expand internationally.
According to Kamran, Yiwu is not only business-friendly but also highly livable. Foreign residents benefit from services such as foreign citizen cards, vocational certification programs, and multilingual government service centers, all of which make it easier for international entrepreneurs to settle and succeed.
As part of its ongoing reform efforts, Yiwu has introduced additional service measures aimed at supporting foreign-funded enterprises and ensuring their long-term growth.
Another example is Anas from Türkiye, who in 2023 partnered with local entrepreneur Xu Hangfei to establish Yiwu Jintai Trading Co., Ltd. in Fotang Township, focusing on cross-border apparel trade. This marked his third business venture in the city.
With more than a decade of experience in Yiwu, Anas has built a stable client base in Middle Eastern markets. He noted that recent institutional reforms have significantly improved business efficiency. Previously, managing exports with multiple product categories in a single shipment was complex. However, under Yiwu’s market procurement trade model, companies can now use simplified declarations for shipments containing more than five product categories, enabling multiple goods to be consolidated into one container.
This reform, he said, has greatly streamlined export procedures and improved operational efficiency.
Meanwhile, Xiao An from Syria, who has lived in Yiwu for 17 years, operates a restaurant in the city’s Binwang commercial district. Witnessing the steady rise in foreign entrepreneurs, he transitioned from cosmetics trading to the restaurant business.
In 2024, he opened his first restaurant, offering Syrian cuisine to the city’s growing international community. Yiwu’s efficient administrative services made the process easier, as he received his business license on the same day he applied.
His restaurant quickly gained popularity, serving more than 2,000 customers daily during peak periods. Encouraged by its success, he opened a second outlet in February 2025 and now plans to expand to other Chinese cities.
Xiao An expressed confidence in Yiwu’s business environment, noting that the city continues to offer increasing opportunities while making entrepreneurship more accessible.
Over the years, Yiwu has evolved from a hub for small commodities into a global marketplace hosting over 10,000 foreign-funded enterprises. With its open and inclusive approach, the city continues to attract investors from around the world.
Foreign traders can often be seen negotiating deals at the Yiwu International Expo Center, reflecting the city’s role as a thriving center of global commerce.
