As a frontier of Shanghai's opening-up, Lin-gang Special Area is building a service platform through institutional innovation and pooling professional resources to better connect governments, platforms, institutions, and enterprises.

Zhongman Petroleum (ZPEC)'s overseas expansion reflects the broader path of Chinese private enterprises going global. Founded in 2003 as a manufacturer of high-end oil equipment, the company initially focused on exports. Around 2010, it began shifting toward engineering services and gradually expanded into overseas oil and gas investment and development.

From project implementation and production setup to market expansion, timely access to funding is essential. Outbound direct investment (ODI) approval remains an essential step for cross-border capital flows, and some companies still face challenges in the process.

Lin-gang's "Going Global" Comprehensive Service Platform offers clear advantages in this regard. "Through continuous institutional innovation, Lin-gang has significantly improved the efficiency of ODI filing and approval compared with other areas, saving time for companies in early-stage cross-border capital operations," said Yao Guicheng, senior vice-president of ZPEC.

The Going Global Comprehensive Service Platform in Lin-gang Special Area. [Photo/lingang.gov.cn]

Lin-gang launched the platform in 2024 to meet the diverse needs of businesses. It features a 2,000-square-meter physical service hall with one-stop service windows for cross-border finance, talent services, and more, brings together 500 professional institutions, and has established more than 80 overseas liaison points.

In terms of institutional innovation, the platform has facilitated 14 non-resident mergers and acquisitions loan deals since 2025, providing financial support for companies' cross-border acquisitions.

Further upgrades to the platform's offline services are planned this year, including the launch of the Dishui Lake Financial Bay reception center and an upgraded international service center, which will offer face-to-face consultations, project matchmaking, and coordination support.