THE number of overseas students returning to work in Shenzhen is expected to reach 20,000 this year, according to Shenzhen’s human resources and social security bureau.

By the end of May, more than 10,000 overseas students had returned to work in Shenzhen, statistics showed.

Shenzhen has seen a 40-percent increase of returning overseas students year on year in the past three years.

The increase in students returning to Shenzhen for employment or to start businesses shows the effect of optimizing the city’s policies and environment for startup businesses. The Conference on International Exchange of Professionals and the China (Shenzhen) Innovation & Entrepreneurship International Competition have played important roles in attracting global talents.

Since January 2017, returned overseas students have been able to apply for qualification checks online. The bureau has introduced reform measures that simplify the procedures for overseas students to apply to work in Shenzhen. Overseas students can apply directly at the human resources agencies in each district.

At present, there are a total of 110,000 returned overseas students and professionals working in the city.