Core Viewpoint - Shanghai is enhancing its business environment through the 2026 Action Plan, focusing on transparency, efficiency, and support for new business models, aiming for significant improvements in the overall business climate [1][2][3]. Group 1: Business Environment Improvements - Shanghai has maintained 22 indicators at the global best level, surpassing cities like Singapore and New York, due to continuous focus on optimizing the business environment since 2018 [2]. - The 2026 Action Plan introduces 26 measures across four key environments: government service, market competition, industrial ecology, and social governance, emphasizing efficiency, fairness, and collaboration [2][3]. - The plan aims to address new issues faced by businesses, such as regulatory transparency and financing difficulties, with specific initiatives like a unified financing service platform for SMEs [3][4]. Group 2: Policy Implementation and Accessibility - The 2026 Action Plan emphasizes a "no application, direct enjoyment" principle for inclusive policies, allowing businesses to receive benefits without the need for complex applications [6][7]. - By the end of 2025, 643 policy projects had implemented this principle, serving over 611 million times, significantly reducing the administrative burden on businesses [7][8]. - The plan aims to further expand the reach of these policies, ensuring that all districts can implement similar "no application" measures [8]. Group 3: Fair Competition and Legal Protections - The Action Plan includes eight measures to promote fair competition, protect intellectual property, and regulate exploitative practices in professional reporting [9][10]. - It aims to strengthen oversight against monopolistic behaviors and improve the evaluation mechanisms for bidding processes to prevent malicious low-bidding practices [10][11]. - The plan also addresses the need to combat online misinformation and protect businesses from malicious activities, enhancing the overall market environment [11][12]. Group 4: Support for Internationalization and Data Management - The Action Plan includes measures to support businesses in international operations, focusing on building a comprehensive service platform for companies going abroad [13][14]. - Shanghai is implementing a negative list approach for data export security management, which will be expanded citywide in 2026, aiming to balance compliance costs with business development [15][16]. - The plan seeks to enhance cross-border data flow management, ensuring that businesses can operate efficiently while adhering to safety standards [15].

Core Viewpoint - The Shanghai government is prioritizing the optimization of the business environment by launching the "Action Plan for Accelerating the Creation of a World-Class Business Environment in Shanghai (2026)" during the first working day of the new year, marking a shift from previous years' timing [1] Group 1: Business Environment Improvement - Shanghai has maintained 22 indicators of its business environment at a global best level, surpassing cities like Singapore, New York, London, and Hong Kong as of December 2025 [2] - The 2026 action plan introduces 26 measures across four major environments: government service, market competition, industrial ecology, and social governance, focusing on efficiency, fairness, adaptability, and collaboration [2][3] - The plan emphasizes the need for transparency in new business models and regulatory efficiency, addressing concerns from enterprises about going global and platform economy regulation [1][3] Group 2: Policy Implementation and Accessibility - The 2026 action plan aims to implement a "no application, direct enjoyment" policy for inclusive measures, allowing businesses to receive funds without the need for applications, thus reducing administrative burdens [6][7] - By the end of November 2025, 643 policy projects had achieved "no application, direct enjoyment," serving over 611 million instances for businesses [7] - The plan aims to enhance the efficiency of policy implementation, with nearly 90% of "direct enjoyment" projects ensuring rapid fund disbursement within 24 hours [8] Group 3: Fair Competition and Regulatory Measures - The action plan includes eight measures to promote fair competition, optimize regulatory checks, protect intellectual property, and combat malicious reporting practices [10][11] - It aims to strengthen oversight against monopolistic and unfair competition behaviors, enhance platform governance, and regulate malicious bidding practices [10][12] - The plan also addresses the need to clear overdue payments to businesses, with a focus on ensuring zero arrears from government entities [12] Group 4: Support for Internationalization and Data Management - The action plan emphasizes enhancing support for businesses going global, including establishing a comprehensive service platform for international operations and improving legal services for overseas investments [13][14] - Shanghai is implementing a negative list for data export security management, which will be expanded citywide in 2026, aiming to balance compliance costs with business development [15]