Mondelēz Beijing Food Co Ltd (Mondelēz Beijing) marked a significant milestone by officially launching its Oreo airy cake production line in the Beijing Economic and Technological Development Area (BDA) on September 19, with an investment of approximately 32 million yuan ($4.38 million).

The kickoff ceremony for Oreo airy cake line [Photo/beijingetown.com.cn]

The Oreo airy cake project represents a major strategic initiative for Mondelēz Beijing in 2022. It expands the company's product portfolio from biscuits into the world of baked pastries, presenting fresh growth opportunities for the company.

The project was officially initiated in August of the previous year. Despite the various challenges posed by the ongoing pandemic, it was successfully completed within just 13 months. This journey has ranged from product design, new equipment development, and the construction of an automated production line to the establishment of a cleanroom, culminating in the official commencement of production.

Zhang Hanzhang, the factory manager of Mondelēz Beijing, expressed gratitude, saying, "During this period, the relevant departments of the BDA provided invaluable support in aspects such as the review of production permits, the transition to natural gas, and the clearance inspection of new materials and equipment. Their assistance allowed us to meet production requirements in record time, and we are profoundly appreciative."

Mondelēz Beijing established its presence in the BDA in 2007, becoming a pivotal production center for Mondelēz China in northern China. It proudly hosts the world's largest Oreo production line and is responsible for nearly one-third of Mondelēz China's biscuit production capacity.

To support a key foreign enterprise in the region, during the pandemic the BDA facilitated connections for Mondelēz Beijing with manufacturers of epidemic prevention materials. This support ensured the company's access to necessary materials and allowed it to fully concentrate on safeguarding production and operations.

Mondelēz Beijing was one of the first foreign enterprises in the BDA to achieve full production during the pandemic. Since 2020, it has achieved double-digit growth in both production value and total investment.

Joost Vlaanderen, president of Mondelēz Greater China, conveyed his deep appreciation, stating, "We genuinely appreciate the relentless efforts and remarkable achievements made by the BDA in enhancing and improving the business environment, which have created a favorable climate for the sustained growth of our business. Mondelēz China stands as one of the successful foreign enterprises deeply rooted in China, and we possess great confidence in the Chinese market. Mondelēz China will continue to invest and thrive in China."

To ensure the stable development of foreign enterprises in the region, the BDA has organized multiple policy outreach events this year. These efforts have focused on the latest policies related to the RCEP agreement, tax incentives for the deferred taxation of reinvestments by foreign enterprises, and a range of measures by Beijing Customs to enhance the stability and quality of foreign trade. Through on-site visits and research, the BDA has gained a deep understanding of the needs of businesses, allowing them to provide precise support to alleviate challenges and assist these enterprises.

The BDA has consistently expanded its service offerings to cater to the evolving requirements of foreign enterprises in the area. In the process of establishing service windows within the "two zones", it has successively added specialized services, including RCEP-specific services, foreign individual's income tax services, as well as foreign trade and investment approval services such as service outsourcing and software export contract filing, registration and filing of technology import and export contracts, and overseas investment filings for businesses. This comprehensive approach aims to provide comprehensive support for the development of foreign-funded enterprises.

From January to July 2022, the BDA utilized foreign direct investment of $262.36 million, reflecting an impressive 82.8 percent year-on-year increase.