Recently, the Jinan Area of the China (Shandong) Pilot Free Trade Zone successfully held the “Unlock South America, Gather for the Future” event focused on the South American business environment and investment opportunities. Jointly hosted by the Administrative Committee of the Jinan Area and the Jinan Municipal Bureau of Commerce, this event was part of the “Going Global” Overseas Investment Lecture Series in the Jinan Area. Representatives from Yingke Law Firm, China Export & Credit Insurance Corporation (Sinosure), and Sinovac Biotech, among others, were invited to explore strategies for entering the South American market.

In recent years, the Jinan Area has leveraged the provincial-level administrative powers delegated to it and pioneered an innovative “one-stop service” model for overseas investment, integrating enterprise and project registration procedures. It has also organized professional service agencies to provide customized and ongoing support for companies “going global,” achieving remarkable results. To date, the Jinan Area has served over 160 outbound investment projects, with a total investment volume of approximately USD 580 million. It has become a hub for Jinan-based outbound investment enterprises and a growth pole for foreign investment. The event featured a “policy interpretation + resource sharing + real-case sharing” format, inviting experts to provide in-depth insights into South America’s business environment and investment opportunities. By translating policy incentives and practical experience into development momentum, the event aimed to help companies upgrade and expand their cross-border operations.

During the event, Liao Mengcheng, Executive Director of Brazil Affairs at Yingke Law Firm (Jinan), gave a detailed presentation on suitable business types for investing in Brazil and potential entry pathways. He provided a systematic analysis of investment opportunities in Brazil and other countries, explained Brazil’s legal framework, investment environment, and foreign investment regulations, highlighted potential risks and key considerations, and shared typical cases of cross-border mergers and acquisitions by Chinese companies.

Zhang Xiang, Assistant Director of the Project Insurance Department at Sinosure Shandong Branch, shared insights into the advantages and opportunities across various South American markets. He elaborated on market entry strategies and trade risks related to general goods and services trade, engineering contracting, and overseas investment. He also provided an overview of multiple insurance products supporting international expansion, including export credit insurance, special export risk insurance, and medium- and long-term insurance, offering practical advice for businesses looking to enter the South American market.

In the final case-sharing session, Liu Daiyue, Head of International Sales Division I at Sinovac Biotech, used the example of local vaccine production in South America to share the company’s experience in building overseas commercial platforms. He discussed organizational structure, sales networks, team management, drug registration, and brand building. He also provided a comprehensive analysis of a full-cycle strategy from product registration to supply chain implementation, offering a replicable model for pharmaceutical companies looking to expand abroad.

Looking ahead, the Jinan Area will continue to leverage its unique strengths as a free trade zone. With the support of the Shandong Provincial Department of Commerce (Free Trade Office), it will actively build an integrated overseas service platform that combines government public services with market-based professional services. The aim is to promote coordinated development of outbound investment and cooperation, facilitate project matchmaking for foreign trade and economic enterprises, and build a comprehensive, full-process, all-domain service support system for businesses going global—offering them a better platform and greater opportunities.