Enterprise Perspective-based Evaluation of Free Trade Port Areas in China

Various business functions and policies specific to free trade port areas (FTPAs) make these zones unique economic environments. They are thus regarded as an effective avenue from which to attract foreign investment intended for developing a national economy and to enhance enterprises’ international competitiveness. Most investors favor investing in FTPAs because these zones present different business opportunities. Considering the limited attention paid to the FTPAs in China, this study examines the business and trade conditions specific to that country. A particular issue of concern is that in choosing FTPAs as investment targets, results are difficult to project because this kind of selection usually becomes a multiple criteria decision-making problem, in which quantitative and qualitative factors must simultaneously be examined. This study investigates the determinants of investment in FTPAs from an enterprise perspective by using the modified Delphi method. On the basis of fuzzy AHP and fuzzy TOPSIS, the weights of related investment factors and the final ranks of four selected Chinese FTPAs are obtained. Results show that economic potential and operating environment are the most important factors for investment. Among the four FTPAs studied, the Shanghai Yangshan FTPA is the most preferred free trade zone for investment.