Hebei draws up supportive measures to attract talent to Xiong'an New Area

The human resources watchdog in Hebei province has outlined measures to attract and serve talent in the Xiong'an New Area, empowering the economic zone with more ways to implement related policies.

The Hebei Provincial Department of Human Resources and Social Security recently issued 15 supportive measures that involve talent policies, and cultivation and introduction of services in the new area.

"The measures are the first supportive policies issued by the department since the establishment of Xiong'an, aiming to contribute to its development into an innovation hub and a hot spot for entrepreneurship in the new era," an unnamed official with the department was quoted as saying in a report by Hebei Daily.

Hebei will authorize Xiong'an to independently establish postdoctoral innovation bases, and recognize intermediate and senior professional titles obtained in other provinces and cities, according to the new measures.

Meanwhile, the authority will approve vocational schools and joint Sino-foreign schools, and projects will be granted in the area.

The department will also support Xiong'an in its reform of the salary system.

Regarding talent cultivation platforms, the province will give priority support to Xiong'an efforts to establish provincial-level training bases for highly skilled personnel and master craftsmen work studios, which could receive financial support of up to 3 million yuan ($420,000).

To attract talent, Xiong'an has rolled out a series of measures since the central government announced the decision to establish the new area in April 2017.

Last month, Xiong'an announced 16 policy measures to attract talent from all over the world, including top scientists, high-level research teams and new university graduates.

The top scientists and their teams can receive research funding of up to 50 million yuan and 3 million yuan in living subsidies. New graduates are eligible for living allowances of 1,000 yuan per month for five years once they are employed.

Feng Pengyao, from Cangzhou, Hebei, said he will apply for a Xiong'an Talent Card — an official certificate granted by the local government to talented people — in January, six months after he was employed by a human resources company in Xiong'an. The card entitles him to public services and benefits related to household registration, healthcare and children's education.

"Supporting policies like this can attract more high-level personnel to the area who will form a good environment for innovation," said the 25-year-old, whose job is to help innovative companies settle in Xiong'an by providing a range of services.

"The policies can also provide more convenience for talent already in Xiong'an, and provide more opportunities for young people to display their talents," he said.

zhangyu1@chinadaily.com.cn