Delta green zone off to a flying start

A total of 16 projects were signed agreements with the Yangtze River Delta Ecology and Greenery Integration Demonstration Zone on Saturday.

The demonstration zone was unveiled just one day before by the governments of Shanghai, and Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces. It consists of Qingpu District of Shanghai, Wujiang District of Suzhou in Jiangsu and Jiashan Town of Jiaxing in Zhejiang.

Among the projects, there were headquarters of multinational enterprises, agricultural and resorts projects, high-tech companies and financial services.

Shanghai Beidou Research Institute will start a new project for the Yangtze River Delta region in the demonstration zone.

Head of the institute Yu Wenxian said the demonstration zone will bring more opportunities to Beidou.

“The Beidou System will complete its global networking next year, the industry will enter a new developing stage,” said Yu. “We are planning a navigation project that can better serve the integration of the delta region.”

Yu also called for the establishment of a talent cultivation system in the demonstration zone.

“So far, the high-tech industry is a weak spot of the demonstration zone,” he said. “I think the universities in the delta region should set up academies and institutions here to boost human talent resources.”

Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Holding Corporation, the food company famous for its instant noodle products Master Kong, will set up an innovation center in the demonstration zone to develop new products.

Yang Qianhui, president Tingyi in charge of its Chinese market, said the company has set up a headquarters in Hongqiao CBD which is just about 45 minutes' drive away from the demonstration zone.

“Though located in Wujiang, the demonstration zone broke the geographical barrier for our innovation center,” said Yang. “We can enjoy the policies made for the zone in the future.”

Apart from the new policies to be released soon, like Yu, Yang said he also saw the potential of the demonstration zone in terms of gathering talent.

“The most important thing for a company to innovate is human talent,” Yang said. “The integration of the delta will make the place a magnet for more young people to pursue their careers and lives.”