A Canadian chocolate company has chosen Hainan as the location of its only production base in Asia, drawn by both the island’s natural conditions and the policy advantages of the Hainan Free Trade Port.

Green Chocolate Works recently established its manufacturing facility in Hainan, joining the ranks of other foreign-invested food companies that have set up operations on the island. According to Wu Huijuan, General Manager of the Marketing Department of Green Chocolate Works (Hainan) Food Manufacturing Co., Ltd., several factors made Hainan a compelling choice.

“The environment here is excellent,” Wu said. “Hainan’s climate is well-suited for growing cocoa, and the island’s clean air and water make it a rare slice of pristine land for a food manufacturing business like ours.”

Yet beyond the natural environment, it was the efficiency and policy support of the Hainan Free Trade Port that impressed the company most.

“From application to obtaining the license, it took us only three hours,” Wu recalled. “And from having a bare, unfinished factory shell to starting batch production, we achieved that in just three months. That kind of speed is simply not achievable in a place like Canada, but here in Hainan it was possible.”

The company’s growth coincided with a major milestone for the island. On December 18, 2025, when Hainan officially launched its island-wide special customs operations, Green Chocolate Works was among the first companies to send out orders under the new policy framework.

Wu was present at the port that day and still remembers the moment clearly. “The speed was incredible,” she said. “I witnessed a customs clearance that took just five minutes.” For businesses, she noted, time directly translates into cost.

“Fast customs clearance saves us time, which is the first major benefit. It also reduces our operational costs,” Wu explained. “All of our raw materials are imported, and right now, the pressure on global logistics is very high. Our cocoa, ingredients, and auxiliary materials are carefully sourced from different parts of the world.” She noted that some ingredients travel long distances before reaching the factory in Hainan.

“For example, for one of our products — a white mint chocolate — the ingredients may transit through several countries before arriving here. If logistics take too long, it creates significant time and operational costs for a company. For manufacturers like us, that can be critical.” The Free Trade Port’s policies, she said, have helped ease that pressure.

“Through the import tariff exemption policy for products with no less than 30% added value after processing, we save around 10 percent on tariffs. That’s already a very considerable saving for a company.” Those savings, she added, are being reinvested into the company’s future. “That ten percent can now go directly into product research and development.”

As the company grows on the island, it is also finding ways to connect its products with local culture and identity. From chocolate flavors inspired by Hainan’s local specialties to packaging designs incorporating Li brocade patterns, the company has integrated elements of the island’s culture into its brand.

Looking ahead, the company hopes its presence in Hainan will continue to expand. With deeper roots on the island, Green Chocolate Works aims to let “the aroma of Hainan-made chocolate reach global markets.”

This series is funded by the China Internet Development Foundation (CIDF) and co-producted by Hinews and Hainan International Media Center.