On February 18, 2025, Governor of Liaoning province Wang Xinwei appointed Pat McCarthy as an Investment Ambassador for Shenyang, recognizing his and his team’s significant contributions to strengthening bilateral ties between Ireland and Liaoning. These efforts have particularly enhanced cooperation in investment, trade, education, and tourism between Ireland and China.
Our team is committed to driving millions of euro in investment into Shenyang.
about shenyang
Shenyang was recently designated as an International Central City in Northeast Asia. Recognized as both a National Historical and Cultural City and an International Comprehensive Transportation Hub, Shenyang covers an area of 12,860 km² and is home to approximately 9.2 million residents. Its administrative divisions include 10 districts and 2 counties, earning the city its status as a State-Classified Megacity.
Rich in cultural heritage and historical significance, Shenyang boasts over 1,500 historical and cultural landmarks, including three UNESCO World Heritage sites, most notably the iconic Shenyang Imperial Palace. This vibrant historical landscape contributes to the city’s recognition as China’s Happiest City, a title it has proudly maintained for three consecutive years.
In addition to its cultural prominence, Shenyang is a vital hub for equipment manufacturing, leading significant developments in automotive manufacturing, aviation, and high-end equipment production.
Shenyang: Integrating Trade, Manufacturing, and Logistics for Global Competitiveness
The city of Shenyang has emerged as a prominent investment destination, driven by strategic developments such as the Shenyang Area of the China (Liaoning) Pilot Free Trade Zone—commonly referred to as Shenyang’s National Free Trade Zone. Established under China’s national strategy to promote trade liberalization and economic openness, this zone provides substantial tax incentives, streamlined customs processes, and simplified regulatory procedures, significantly enhancing the ease of doing business and reducing operational costs for enterprises.
Complementing the Free Trade Zone, the Shenyang Comprehensive Bonded Zone specifically caters to production, assembly, manufacturing, and logistics operations. Businesses operating within the Bonded Zone benefit from additional customs duty exemptions, deferred taxes, and advanced warehousing facilities, making it ideal for enterprises engaged in global supply-chain activities.
For example, a European automotive-parts manufacturer might initially establish its Asian headquarters or trading office in Shenyang’s Free Trade Zone to leverage its investment incentives, simplified business registration, and favorable administrative environment. The company could then import raw materials directly into the adjacent Comprehensive Bonded Zone for assembly, benefiting from duty-free or deferred-duty arrangements during production.
Once assembly is completed, finished products can be quickly and efficiently exported to Europe or Central Asia via the nearby China-Europe Railway Express Assembly Centre. This integrated system positions Shenyang as an attractive investment hub, offering enterprises a comprehensive, cost-effective, and seamless solution for global supply-chain management.
The video below contains more details on Shenyang’s upgrade to an International Central City in Northeast Asia.
Shenyang: A National Hub of Higher Education and Technological Innovation
Shenyang plays a critical role in China’s innovation landscape, distinguished by its extensive academic and research infrastructure. As home to 45 institutions of higher learning and 79 national-level innovation platforms, the city serves as an intellectual powerhouse, fostering significant scientific and technological advancements. This rich concentration of universities and institutes provides companies in Shenyang unparalleled access to highly skilled talent, cutting-edge research, and opportunities for collaboration.
Moreover, Shenyang has been officially recognized as one of China’s 15 key sources of scientific and technological innovation, highlighting its strategic importance to the national innovation agenda. This status attracts substantial government investment and policy support, further enabling local and international businesses to innovate and rapidly commercialize technologies.
For enterprises establishing operations in Shenyang, this environment not only accelerates research and development processes but also enhances their competitive position within global markets, particularly in advanced manufacturing, electronics, automotive technology, and emerging high-tech industries.
Shenyang will continue to build itself into a premier national hub by enhancing its business environment, streamlining administrative processes, and providing efficient, high-quality services to attract and support foreign investment and technological innovation.
Shenyang's Vision 2030: Enhancing International Public Services and Communities
Shenyang will strengthen its provision of international public services by improving the quality of care at nine international hospitals and enhancing educational standards at six international schools. By 2030, the city plans to establish twelve modern international communities equipped with comprehensive facilities and amenities.
For more news on the Irish community in China, visit Ireland-China News. If you are interested in Ireland-China investment opportunities in Shenyang, explore our services at Ireland-China Focus. For inquiries, connect with the Ireland Sino Institute
