The investment facilitation index of the China (Guangdong) Pilot Free Trade Zone grew by 9.2 percent year-on-year to 189.6 last year.

The index was developed by Tsinghua University. It's based on performances in government service, access to facilitation elements, investment structure optimization and regional development.

The free trade zone includes areas in Hengqin, Zhuhai; Nansha, Guangzhou; and Qianhai and Shekou in Shenzhen.

It maintained robust momentum last year, a report on the index said.

The zone's indices on trade facilitation, cross-border finance and shipping development rose by 10.38 percent, 8.79 percent and 22.4 percent year-on-year, respectively, said Zhang Jinsong, director of the provincial commerce department, at a news conference in Guangzhou on Thursday.

In the first half of this year, the zone reported 61.83 billion yuan ($9.1 billion) in fixed-asset investment, more than 200 billion yuan in imports and exports and 4.05 billion yuan in actually utilized foreign investment, Zhang said.