The Hongqiao International Central Business District is an international business hub. [Photo provided to en.shhqcbd.gov.cn]
Shanghai's Hongqiao International Central Business District recently released an action plan aimed at creating a world-class business environment in 2025.
The plan aims to enhance the local business environment by making it more market-oriented, law-based, and international, thereby improving the experience of enterprises and talent.
It includes 22 measures across six key areas: optimizing the environment for international trade, helping enterprises go global, enhancing the industrial ecosystem, boosting integrated investment promotion services, developing a talent hub, and fostering a positive development atmosphere.
The plan emphasizes the district's role as a hub for international trade, particularly through the expansion of the "Silk Road E-commerce" initiative. This includes the implementation of a three-year action plan to boost e-commerce cooperation and the establishment of a service system to support cross-border trade. The district will host a series of events including cross-border e-commerce forums and consumer promotion activities under the "Silk Road Cloud Products" banner.
Home to the China International Import Expo (CIIE)'s permanent venue, the CBD plans to boost the influence of the annual CIIE and help strengthen cooperation under the Silk Road e-commerce framework, according to the plan.
A key component of the development strategy is the enhancement of digital infrastructure as the district seeks to become a hub for international cooperation in the digital economy. The district aims to establish a new cross-border data service center and a data intellectual property registration service station to facilitate the flow and distribution of data across borders.
To further support international business operations, the district will expand its digital service exports by establishing a new digital service export base. It will also develop a cross-border e-commerce air-sea channel, establish specialized service windows at Shanghai ports, and pilot digital regulatory projects for cross-border e-commerce.
The plan outlines efforts to foster international cooperation in service trade and support enterprises in their global expansion. The Hongqiao Overseas Development Service Center will play a pivotal role in this endeavor, leveraging international organizations and professional service agencies to establish overseas liaison locations. Additionally, the district will encourage digital transformation and the development of ESG-driven enterprises.
To boost innovation, Hongqiao aims to attract high-level resources by promoting the establishment of national key laboratories and engineering research centers. The district will also support leading enterprises in developing open innovation platforms and R&D centers.
In addition, the plan includes initiatives to streamline government services, attract more talent, and improve the living environment for international professionals. The district will also bolster its talent service platform, providing comprehensive support for international professionals, including visa facilitation and multilingual services.
