Blueprint for a global hub of commerce and services

Jing’an has released a three-year development plan to cap Shanghai’s ongoing campaign to promote city brands of manufacturing, services, shopping and culture.

The plan envisions Jing’an as a world-class commercial hub, smart industry center and cultural zone, along with its reputation as an eco-friendly district with a comfortable lifestyle.

Jing’an was designated to spearhead the reform of Shanghai’s services sector in 2010. A diverse set of suggestions has been submitted to help the district achieve that goal, including simplifying administrative procedures, introducing incentives to attract professional talent and enhancing the historical preservation and reuse of old buildings.

By 2020, the added value of the services industry in the district is forecast to increase 7 percent a year. The plan calls for 80 regional corporate headquarters to be located in Jing’an by that year.

The district boasts that its services industries are top tier. It is seeking to improve the allocation of global resources, including investment, technology and professional talent, according to Xu Xingli, deputy director of Jing’an the Development and Reform Commission.

Global service provider

“Jing’an will play a vital role in the network of global services providers,” she said. “We will provide strong support to cooperation with overseas institutions and local exporters.”

The Globalization and World Cities Research Network, a think tank based in Britain’s Loughborough University, ranked Shanghai ninth on its list of advanced services providers last year, noting its strong advantages and influence in the sector.

Since the services project began in Jing’an eight years ago, the district has become the first in the city to establish a professional human resources services industrial park. It aims to nurture a skilled workforce for Shanghai and the Yangtze Delta region.

The district also forged a cooperative line with Customs to grant priority status to nearly 20 imported brands, including Gucci and Zara, thereby reducing the chances of shipments being held up for inspection.

Jing’an also aims to become a world-class commercial hub. By 2020, the district’s retail sales are forecast to reach 80 billion yuan a year.

Duty-free shops are expected to open along bustling Nanjing Road West. Its side streets are being upgraded with themed shopping. The Qipu Road shopping area will be given a new lease of life via the introduction of South Korean designers.

At the same time, venerable old brands based in Jing’an will seek to open outlets in foreign countries.

The district is seeking to become a “museum without borders” by mobilizing its cultural and historical resources.

In the business realm, Shibei High Technology Park will seek to develop new technologies and start-up companies with global potential, according to the three-year plan.