The number of social enterprises in Beijing will exceed 300 by the end of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025), according to a recent document issued following the meeting of Beijing Municipal Leading Group for Social Construction.
The group released the “Opinions on Promoting the Development of Social Enterprises” in order to promote the development of such companies in Beijing.
A social enterprise, according to the opinions, is an enterprise or other legal entity that prioritizes the pursuit of social benefits and relies on commercial means such as providing products or services to solve social problems.
The opinions seek to establish a social enterprise industry support system, standardize social enterprise service management, and facilitate cooperation between government departments and industry organizations by 2025.
Qualified enterprises legally registered in Beijing would be able to apply to become accredited as a social enterprise, with each accreditation valid for three years.
The opinions detail the city’s focus on fostering social enterprises that serve special groups, such as the elderly, women, children, the disabled, the unemployed, migrant workers, families in need, and former criminals.
At the same time, the opinions encourage large and medium-sized enterprises, especially those that are state-owned, to create social enterprises and social service institutions to be transformed into social enterprises.
