China Releases 2025 Edition of the Catalogue of Encouraged Industries for Foreign Investment, Effective February 2026

Core Document: Catalogue of Encouraged Industries for Foreign Investment (2025 Edition)

​​​​​​​鼓励外商投资产业目录.pdf

Official Release Note:
The 2025 Edition of the Catalogue has been deliberated and adopted at the 22nd Commission Affairs Meeting of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and reviewed and signed by the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM). With the approval of the State Council, it is hereby released and shall come into effect on February 1, 2026.

China Entry Hub Insight:
The latest edition of the Catalogue is a core barometer of China's foreign investment policy. It clearly lists industrial sectors encouraged for foreign investment nationwide and specifically in the central, western, and northeastern regions. For enterprises considering greenfield investments in China (such as setting up factories, R&D centers, or regional headquarters), a deep understanding of the clauses related to their business in the Catalogue is of strategic importance. Projects listed in the "Encouraged" category are typically eligible to apply for a series of preferential policies at the investment location, which may include corporate income tax reductions, tariffs exemptions on imported equipment, land rental subsidies, and streamlined approval processes. Therefore, using this Catalogue as a foundational framework to assess potential policy benefits well in advance of its effective date is a critical step for strategic planning and negotiations.

Regarding Document Language Versions and Our Services
We present this document in its original Chinese version, as this reflects a common and critical challenge when entering the Chinese market: the information barrier. Although the Chinese government continues to increase efforts in releasing English information, a vast number of legally binding regulations, standards, notices, and real-time updates are still primarily published through Chinese official channels. This barrier of language and access often prevents overseas enterprises from obtaining crucial information or leads them to rely on outdated or inaccurate translations.
This is one of the core values of China Entry Hub's "on-the-ground" team. As local experts deeply embedded in the Chinese market, we can:

• Monitor in real-time the official websites of various central and local government departments.
• Accurately interpret and extract the core requirements, deadlines, and changes from Chinese policy documents relevant to your specific business.
• Provide precise business impact analysis, going beyond mere translation, to help you make informed decisions.
  If you need to inquire whether a specific product is subject to special regulations, the specific application conditions for a certain qualification, or any policy details only published on Chinese platforms, we are ready to provide you with professional information retrieval and insightful analysis services.

Source: General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China, Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council.