Shanghai Hongqiao blazes a trail for high-quality development

Over the past two years, Shanghai Hongqiao International Central Business District has maintained robust and stable growth momentum in major economic indicators thanks to its core "business, conventions and exhibitions, transport, and scientific and technological innovation" functions.

The Hongqiao CBD 's cumulative growth of fixed-asset investment, the total retail sales of consumer goods, as well as the total volume of import and export goods have all exceeded 100 billion yuan ($14.6 billion). In addition, its number of newly added enterprises has reached nearly 20,000.

Booming business

The Hongqiao CBD is revving up efforts to boost the headquarters economy by accelerating the agglomeration of multinationals, supporting the development of private enterprises, and continuously optimizing services.

Over the past two years, it has attracted more than 500 headquarters of top companies, including 44 headquarters of multinationals, as well as 11 foreign-funded research and development centers.

The district supports enterprises to expand their presence in the international market and gives full play to the role of its key platforms, such as the comprehensive service platform under the Belt and Road Initiative, the intellectual property protection center, as well as the RCEP enterprise service station.

For example, the Hongqiao Overseas Trade Center has established ties with more than 150 countries and regions around the world.

Conventions and exhibitions

The 5th China International Import Expo was held in November last year and attracted 2,800 companies from 127 countries and regions around the world, with the transaction value reaching $73.52 billion.

The Hongqiao CBD is moving towards internationalization, professionalism, and marketization, building platforms, such as trade promotion and innovation demonstration zones, as well as distribution centers for import and export commodities.

Transportation

The "Shanghai Express" of the China-Europe freight trains has opened routes to Russia, Europe, and Central Asia, connecting more than 30 cities in seven countries involved in the BRI.

The Shanghai Hongqiao Digital Logistics Equipment Port is improving the level of informatization, digitization, intelligence, and equipment in the entire process of the logistics industry.

In addition, the Hongqiao CBD has promoted a number of cross-regional rail transit infrastructure, including the Shanghai section of the Shanghai-Suzhou-Huzhou high-speed railway, the urban railway-airport line, and the Jiamin line.

Scientific and technological innovation

The Hongqiao CBD is accelerating the accumulation of scientific and technological innovation resources. The New Hongqiao International Medical Center has gathered 11 hospitals, 18 outpatient medical institutions, and seven large-scale biomedical headquarters.

There are nearly 10,000 scientific and technological enterprises in the business district, with the number of "little giants", small and medium-sized enterprises that specialize in niche markets, accounting for 33.6 percent of the city's total. It is also home to are more than 2,200 digital enterprises above designated size.