Promoting economic success at 6th CIIE
Jing'an hosted a promotion event on November 7 in conjunction with the sixth China International Import Expo. The district has a tradition of using the Expo to promote itself to the rest of the world.
Jing'an promoted the local biomedical sector during the third CIIE since developing life science was a high government priority after the release of the district's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025). It turned its focus to Nanjing Road W. in the fourth and fifth CIIEs, issuing a competitiveness index and a blueprint to create the area as a world-class CBD.
Wang Hua, director of Jing'an, provided a comprehensive overview of the district's economic strengths, significant industries, excellent administrative services and other features.
“CIIE is an important platform for deepening understanding and strengthening cooperation,” Wang said. “Through this promotion event, Jing'an hopes to make its voice heard more and welcome investment with the most open mind, the most con- siderate service and the best business environment.”
More than 80 enterprises with operations or regional headquarters in Jing'an participated in this year's CIIE. Some of them attended the promotion event to share their experiences with the district.
AstraZeneca has participated in CIIE for six years. The pharmaceutical giant inked a strategic cooperation memorandum with Jing'an during the second CIIE, with plans to locate its global R&D center, AI innovation center and business related to imported medicine Linzess in Jing'an.
Jing'an and AstraZeneca opened the Shanghai International Life Science Innovation Campus (iCampus) just before the fourth CIIE. So far, it has attracted about 20 innovative biomedical firms, and as a result, Jing'an awarded iCampus the “large enterprises open innovation accelerator” at this year's CIIE.
AstraZeneca Executive Vice President Leon Wang praised Jing'an as the hub of the company's business in Shanghai and an important aspect of the company's worldwide landscape. It will strive to work with Jing'an to become more integrated with the international biomedical community, as well as to help Jing'an become a bio-medical industry innovation engine.
Japanese retailer Muji is another “old fellow” of Jing'an.
It opened its first store on the Chinese mainland on Nanjing Road W. in 2005. However, it was only at the sixth CIIE that it participated in the Expo for the first time. It designed an immersive experience for visitors in a 400-square-meter exhibition space.
Shimizu Satoshi, chairman of Muji China, said that Jing'an was witness to Muji's rise on the Chinese mainland, growing from a single outlet on Nanjing Road W. to 366 outlets in more than 60 cities across the country in 18 years.
He said he could fully understand why so many well-known global brands would want to come to Jing'an because the district has been stepping up efforts to assist enterprises in talent recruiting, business operations and administrative processes, among others.
Jing'an has also pledged to become a world-class CBD with a clear blueprint, which has helped investors like Muji, he said. Muji launched China's first environmentally friendly concept shop in Jing'an this year, and it wants to establish its regional headquarters there in the future.
Additionally, the event promoted significant growth zones in Jing'an.
The Nanjing Road W. zone is a hub of multinational brands and highend service providers; the Suhe Bay area is being developed into a worldclass waterfront zone, highlighting cultural and commercial businesses; the Daning area focuses on culture and innovation; the Shibei area, which grew out of the Shibei High Technology Park, is centered on digital intelligence. The park is the only one designated as a pilot location for adopting cutting-edge blockchain technologies.
Jing'an has held multiple promotional events in and outside Shanghai this year, including in Beijing, Fuzhou and Shenzhen. Over 400 companies attended the events, and 28 of them signed cooperation agreements with the district.
Jing'an group tops trading volumes
The Jing'an trading group had the highest trading volumes at the sixth CIIE. This year, more than 80 companies with offices or regional headquarters in Jing'an participated in the CIIE. Many of them were members of the Jing'an trading group and secured purchasing contracts and cooperation deals.
L'oreal, AstraZeneca, Cowell Health, SAP, Coach, Kanebo, doTERRA and Eisai were among them.
Zhang Jun, Jing'an's deputy director and group head, stated that every CIIE has provided Jing'an with fresh development opportunities. “It is an important opportunity to promote Jing'an to further improve international reputation and develop an open economy,” he added.
L'oreal, one of the“old friends”of CiiE, displayed around 270 exhibits, a record high. The highlights included the introduction of its skincare brand Aesop and the exhibition of 17 innovative makeup technologies, including four Asian debuts.
Sanofi demonstrated various breakthrough medicines for the treatment of immunological and rare disorders. It launched Dupixent at the Expo for treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
An essential oil derived from Hainan blue lotus was showcased at the doTERRA booth. Grifols, one of the “new faces” at CIIE, sought partnerships for its local expansion.
Cowell Health highlighted how the company helped local communities develop a healthy life cycle.
Cible skin brought reputable skincare products from France to China.
Construction has begun on the highly-anticipated Fangua Long, one of the biggest urban revitalization projects in downtown shanghai this year.
The 1.36-billion-yuan (us$190 million) project spans around 26,000 square meters and extends east to Gonghexin road, south to tianmu road M., west to Datong road, and north to the Fangua Long Primary school.
It was once one of the most prosperous areas in the former Zhabei District in the 1920s. The completion of the railway station in 1909 brought a flood of businesses. Heavy shelling destroyed it during the war.
In the 1940s, it had turned into a densely populated slum, teeming with people fleeing the war. Most people lived in shanty huts and hovels made of bam- boo, straw and mud, with no running water, toilet, drainage, or other amenities.
In 1947, the area produced a super-sized pumpkin known as Fangua by locals, giving rise to the name Fangua Long, which translates as “pumpkin lane neighborhood.”
In 1966, the run-down shelters were converted into multi-storey residences with contemporary amenities such as running water, electricity and gas. Banks, bookstores, restaurants, hair salons and other support services also slowly popped up.
However, the neighborhood steadily deteriorated, with crumbling walls and leaky ceilings. Neighbors frequently fought over shared restrooms and kitchens. in addition, illegally constructed shelters posed significant safety issues.
Jing’an decided to renovate the neighborhood to improve the living conditions of the locals.
Residents welcomed the decision. Within 49 days, all 1,122 households had signed a renewal agreement and moved out within 30 days. Construction officially began on november 12.
Six modern apartment complexes will replace the 14 dilapidated buildings, each featuring its own kitchen, toilet and balcony. there will be two-storey subterranean parking, a big courtyard garden in the center and other lifestyle amenities.
Residents are expected to return three to four years after the completion of the project.
Construction on another significant urban renewal project also began on the same day.
The Zhongxing community project extends east to Dongbaoxing road, south to Baotong Apartment and Changzheng Building, west to Baotong road, and north to Tiantong’an road.
It will have two office buildings, three residential buildings and one rental apartment tower, with total investment exceeding 7 billion yuan.
Several old structures will be maintained and refurbished to serve modern purposes.
The Xinhua Cultural Science and Technology Park is an industrial park specializing in cultural creativity, digital publishing and animation design. So far, it has attracted over 1,200 companies, including 40 high-tech firms.
The Gonghex in Road Subdistrict has announced measures and personalized services to optimizeitsbusiness environment to support its key innovation cluster. There is a “chief service team” that regularly initiates campaigns in the park by providing legal counsel, policy interpretation, financial services and other services.
This year, Jing'an District's first overseas intellectual property rights protection work station was unveiled in the park to assist more local businesses in expanding overseas and competing with their overseas rivals.
The subdistrict has prioritized senior care.
It has developed three comprehensive elder-care service centers, four canteens, 21 activity rooms for them at local juweihui (neighborhood committees), and other elderly-friendly venues.
It means daycare, nursing, entertainment and other amenities are just 15 minutes from the local seniors.
One of the subdistrict's comprehensive eldercare service centers has a 90-square-meter canteen. Three-dish sets cost 12 yuan (US$1.68).
Takeout and delivery services are available to disabled elders.
The second service center offers cardiograms, bone mineral density tests, blood pressure checks and traditional Chinese medicine consultations.
They can receive health data on their mobile phones. Big data monitors their health.
Their phones will alert them if their health is compromised.
Home care services include a 24-hour hotline for seniors, home renovations and daycare for seniors with cognitive problems.
The platform economy has made deliverymen essential to our daily lives. How to make them feel at ease has been a concern for the subdistrict.
The subdistrict surveyed deliverymen and found that they needed a place to rest, recharge their phones and drink tea. To make them feel at home, the subdistrict made a deal with 24 stores to help them with food, a salon, shopping and even moped repair.
They were given a map of the 24 stores.
