Why is a unified national market now so vital for Beijing’s policymakers?
- Beijing’s latest economic strategy is a key part of China’s recovery as it pivots to the domestic market
- But progress may be slow as different rules and red tape between regions continue to act as roadblocks to Chinese business owners

When a Zhejiang catering franchise looked to expand beyond the province, its owner thought it would be wise to pick a “pro-business” location as she had no appetite for red tape or runaround.
Sally Liang, who owns several restaurants in Zhejiang province, was drawn by the market size of the southern megacity of Shenzhen – but before long she found the challenges of setting up shop there too much to swallow.
“Naturally, Shenzhen appears on the radar if you think about southern China, but we underestimated the disparities in rules and licensing procedures from one city to another,” Liang said.
“It means I can only open one restaurant in Shenzhen and where can I find seven other people I trust to apply [for permits] on my behalf?” Liang said.
She is now considering accepting her losses and pulling out of the venture as the outlook becomes unpalatable.
