CBC Inaugural Business Mission to Hainan Province, “Hawaii of China”: Building Bridges at the Crossroads of Global CleanTech Transformation #TogetherWeAreStronger

At the special invitation of Mr. Cai Jibo, Chairman of Sinomach Hainan and former CEO of Sumec, Mr. Tomasz Antoni Slusarz, Founder & CEO of the CleanTech Business Club (CBC), led a CBC Business Mission to Hainan Province. This mission symbolized not only the strengthening of long-standing partnerships in China but also the building of new bridges between global cleantech leaders and one of China’s most dynamic regions.

Hainan Province – often called the “Hawaii of China” – is not only a natural paradise but also a strategic hub for China’s opening-up in the new era. With the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) policies set to take effect on 18 December 2025, the province will gain unprecedented advantages: preferential tax policies, internationalized trade and investment mechanisms, and modern infrastructure designed to attract high-quality global resources.

At the heart of Hainan’s transformation stands Haikou’s Longhua District, the central urban area and economic engine of the provincial capital. Longhua contributes a significant share of Haikou’s GDP, driven by modern industries such as logistics, commerce, tourism, and high-tech services. It is also home to key government institutions and infrastructure, making it one of the most vibrant districts in Hainan Province.

Yet Longhua is not only about modern growth — it also safeguards one of Haikou’s greatest cultural treasures: the historic Qílóu Old Street. These arcade-style buildings, first constructed in the early 20th century by overseas Chinese merchants and Western traders, combine European, Indian, and Southeast Asian architectural elements with local Hainanese tradition. With their distinctive covered walkways, carved facades, and lively storefronts, the Qílóu streets are today regarded as the largest and best-preserved arcade architectural complex in China. They are a living testament to Haikou’s role as a gateway of Sino-foreign exchange and stand as a cultural jewel linking Hainan’s past with its future.

"Longhua’s unique combination of economic vitality and cultural heritage makes it a model for how cities can balance growth with identity — and it is this spirit that resonates strongly with CBC’s vision of connecting business with meaningfulness and joy." (more photos at the end of article)

Sinomach Hainan, today driving the development of the Hainan Free Trade Port, plays a pivotal role in this transformation. The FTP project, to be completed by 2035, is of national strategic significance and will position Hainan as a flagship of China’s new round of reform and opening-up.

Against this backdrop, two milestone activities made our CBC Business Mission to Hainan Province truly historic:

CBC Founder Appointed as Haikou Longhua District’s First International Investment Promotion Ambassador

On September 5, 2025, Haikou’s Longhua District appointed CBC Founder Tomasz Antoni Slusarz as its first International Investment Promotion Ambassador.

This independent and honorary position aims to connect Longhua’s industries with international resources, reinforcing business opportunities for both CBC Members and Partners globally as well as for Chinese stakeholders.

“The ceremony made headlines, with extensive coverage led by Haikou TV News — the most influential broadcaster in Haikou and across Hainan — as featured below.”

During the ceremony at the Sinomach Hainan Building, Ms. Chen Fang, Secretary of the Longhua District Committee, officially presented the Appointment Certificate. This role is a recognition not of one individual, but of the collective power of CBC Leaders from over 40 countries, united by Human-to-Human (H2H) relationships and the spirit of #TogetherWeAreStronger.

In his address, Mr. Slusarz emphasized the unique advantages of Longhua’s location, its modern business environment, and the potential to leverage Hainan Free Trade Port policies to attract clean technology, clean hydrogen, and clean water projects. Through CBC’s global leadership network, he pledged to bring more international enterprises to explore cooperation in Longhua and to support its transformation into a welcoming hub for investors and entrepreneurs worldwide.

He also underlined that Hainan Island is a natural partner for the soon-to-be officially announced CleanTech on Islands Alliance under the CBC Maritime Industry Hub, cementing Hainan’s role in helping advance clean technology deployment across islands worldwide.

CBC and Sinomach Hainan Discuss Potential Strategic Cooperation for Hainan and International CleanTech & Regenerative Development

Prior to the ceremony, CBC leaders held a bilateral meeting with Sinomach Hainan, represented by Chairman Mr. Cai Jibo.

Mr. Cai presented Sinomach Hainan’s role as the regional headquarters of Sinomach Group, a Fortune Global 500 enterprise ranked 352nd globally, with 29 first-tier subsidiaries, 11 listed firms, and more than 350 overseas offices. Sinomach is not only the cradle of China’s agricultural machinery industry but also a global leader in hydrogen storage and transport equipment technology.

Sinomach Hainan itself has become a flagship driver of the Hainan Free Trade Port project, supporting its 2035 vision. It has spearheaded modern marine farming initiatives, built the Sinomach Hainan Industrial Park, and promoted cross-border e-commerce and agricultural cooperation.

Internationally, Sinomach Hainan has successfully delivered infrastructure and livelihood projects in Africa – from the Kafulafuta water supply system in Zambia (benefiting over 1 million residents) to hospitals, schools, and agricultural demonstration parks in Angola and Zambia.

Looking ahead, Sinomach Hainan aims to leverage its expertise in hydrogen, energy storage, agriculture, and digitalized services to support sustainable development both in China and worldwide.

Tomasz Slusarz praised Sinomach Hainan’s achievements and highlighted the synergies with CBC’s mission to advance clean technology, clean hydrogen, and clean water solutions globally. He underlined opportunities for collaboration in agricultural trade and processing, international clean energy projects, and Africa-focused initiatives, particularly in Morocco. 

This dialogue aligns closely with the mission of the recently launched CBC Agriculture & Food Industries Hub, co-chaired by Mr. Sampath Kumar, CEO of FEST-Group & Feston Solar. The Hub is committed to building a Zero-Emission Agriculture Ecosystem and fostering cross-sector collaboration in clean energy, digitalisation, and food security. Given Sinomach’s extensive expertise in agricultural machinery, grain trade, and food processing—complemented by Mr. Cai’s own leadership background as former Vice-Chairman of YTO (First Tractor Company)—the alignment between Sinomach Hainan and CBC is both natural and strategic.

Last but not least, both parties agreed that the Hainan Free Trade Port offers a unique platform to pilot new forms of global cooperation, combining Sinomach’s industrial strength with CBC’s international leadership network.

Looking Ahead

The visit concluded with an official invitation for Longhua District, Sinomach Hainan, and the Hainan Delegation to join the CBC High-Level Delegation to SNEC H2 & ES in Shanghai this October. There, CBC will host landmark activities including:

• The Global Reveal of the “Quo Vadis Clean Hydrogen?” Book Initial Edition (2025)

• The Solemn Launch Ceremony of the 1st Global StorageVersity Innovation Challenge, powered by ACWA Power in partnership with CBC, SNEC & NICE

• The 1st Joint GCMEN (Global CleanTech Media Exchange Network), SNEC and CBC Press Luncheon & Conference

• The Inaugural CBC Global Inspiring CleanTech TV Stage with SNEC, powered by GCMEN & Cleanvestree MediaX

Following SNEC, two return visits to Haikou are already planned:

• October 2025: CBC High-Level Delegation Post-SNEC Visit to Hainan Province & Longhua District.

• December 2025: CBC Business Mission to Hainan & Longhua District – From Celebration to Global Business Action.

During the December mission, CBC will officially launch the CleanTech on Islands Alliance under the CBC Maritime Industry Hub, cementing Hainan’s role as a model for clean technology deployment across islands worldwide.

A Meaningful Journey

Visiting Hainan – the “Hawaii of China” – was not only a privilege but also a joy. It is a unique place where CBC can truly embody its lifestyle philosophy: combining business with meaningfulness and joy.

Above all, this mission reaffirmed the importance of our guiding spirit: #TogetherWeAreStronger. It is this ethos that will continue to drive our collaborations with Longhua District, Sinomach Hainan, and the Hainan Free Trade Port, ensuring that our collective leadership family delivers transformative impact for China, for islands worldwide, and for the global CleanTech ecosystem.