Government employees assist residents with registration applications. [Photo/WeChat account: whkfq]
Wuhan Economic & Technological Development Zone (WEDZ) is making significant strides in enhancing its business environment by prioritizing efficient service delivery, utilizing digital technologies, and pursuing institutional innovations to streamline processes.
A collaborative effort among departments has led to the implementation of a "promise-based start" policy, enabling construction units to obtain all necessary permits, including the Real Estate Certificate, with a single credit commitment.
Service teams engage early, beginning at the project signing stage, and guide companies through design, environmental assessments, and other processes, both online and offline. This approach promotes phased approvals and accelerates project launch and production.
The government app has been upgraded to integrate services for businesses, talent, and daily life, boasting over 9,200 registered users. Seventy-two high-frequency matters can now be handled via mobile, 758 services are available for 24-hour self-service, and 120 types of licenses do not require submission.
The zone has adopted a "tolerant and prudent" approval approach for new business models. It has issued the province's first license for smart catering equipment, paving the way for further innovation.
The model now extends to sectors like live streaming, unmanned delivery, and the low-altitude economy, stimulating market vitality through "trust-based approvals" and "streamlined approvals".
Artificial intelligence is playing a crucial role in enhancing the approval process. In 2024, WEDZ piloted AI-assisted bid evaluation, increasing efficiency by over 40 percent through automated bid comparisons.
WEDZ has deepened service reforms, driving significant growth in market entities — from nearly 66,000 in 2021 to 135,000 in 2025. In 2025 alone, over 16,500 new enterprises registered, a year-on-year increase of more than 70 percent.
The zone has also witnessed the launch of over 600 projects, including those by Aptiv, Visteon, and ZF. Emerging industries such as hydrogen energy, robotics, and harmonic drive technology are converging in WEDZ, attracting sustained investment from both domestic and international enterprises.
