Taicang city offers convenience to companies looking to set up in China

Taicang, an open and inclusive port city in Jiangsu province, hosted an investment promotion conference on Feb 14 to attract new partners.

Being the closest county-level city to downtown Shanghai, Taicang has capitalized on the opportunities arising from the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta region in recent years. Its focus is on establishing itself as a gateway to Shanghai, a city fortified by its port, a model area for collaboration with Germany, and a place of beauty and happiness.

"Our overall strength consistently ranks among the top 10 of county-level cities nationwide, and for three consecutive years, we have been recognized as a city with the highest entrepreneurial satisfaction," said Wang Xiangyuan, Party secretary of Taicang.

Through deep integration into Shanghai's growth trajectory, Taicang has achieved milestones, including the establishment of key partnerships such as the large aircraft icing safety experimental center of COMAC Shanghai Aircraft Design & Research Institute, the Taicang branch of Shanghai's Ruijin Hospital, and the Taicang foreign language school affiliated with Shanghai International Studies University.

Additionally, by leveraging Shanghai as a window of opening-up, Taicang has nurtured a fruitful relationship with Germany for three decades, attracting more than 550 German enterprises to date.

Norbert Riedel, consul general of Germany in Shanghai, emphasized that Taicang not only serves as a vital hub for Sino-German economic collaboration but is a model of such partnership.

Over the decades, the city has evolved into the preferred destination for German companies in China, boasting the highest concentration of German small and medium-sized enterprises nationwide.

The flourishing "German enterprise ecosystem" in Taicang has strengthened bilateral economic ties and promoted long-term cooperation across industrial sectors and cultural exchanges, Riedel said.

Taicang's GDP grew by 6.8 percent in 2024, surpassing the national average by 1.8 percentage points and Jiangsu by 1 percentage point. This year, the city anticipates its GDP to exceed 200 billion yuan ($27.46 billion).

"We leverage the city's strategic advantages as the largest foreign trade port on the Yangtze River, engaging in trade with more than 180 countries and regions," Wang said. Taicang Port's annual container throughput surpasses 8 million twenty-foot equivalent units, ranking eighth nationally and 20th globally.

"Supported by various sectors, the number of new projects in Taicang has witnessed an average annual increase of 19 percent over the past three years, resulting in a net increase of nearly 200 industrial enterprises above designated size," Wang noted. The city attracted 275 new industrial projects in 2024, with a total investment of 65.6 billion yuan.

Taicang stands at a crossroads of strategic opportunities, with initiatives such as the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta region and the construction of the Shanghai metropolitan area. The implementation of the National Development and Reform Commission's 21 policy measures to deepen Shanghai-Suzhou integrated development is also gaining momentum.

With the inauguration of the Shanghai-Suzhou-Nantong Railway and the Nanjing-Taicang High-Speed Railway, Taicang has around a 30-minute commute to Shanghai and a one-hour commute to Nanjing.

Capitalizing on its "dual hub" advantage of ports and railways, Taicang is accelerating the transformation of its economic landscape, providing a broader platform and enhanced business opportunities for entrepreneurial innovation, Wang said.

In terms of industries, Taicang's high-end equipment, advanced materials, and modern logistics and trade have all surpassed the 100-billion-yuan mark. Meanwhile, emerging industries such as aerospace, biomedicine and the low-altitude economy are exhibiting robust growth.

Also, the city's new energy vehicle industry has cultivated a distinctive ecosystem, while its diverse tourism offerings such as ice and snow tourism, port tourism, and rural tourism are gaining prominence.

"We are focusing on developing a 50-square-kilometer Luojiang new town centered around industries, and nearly 4 million square meters of logistics and warehousing facilities, providing more than 200 hectares of industrial land annually to accommodate promising projects," Wang said.

Regarding governmental services, Wang highlighted Taicang's establishment of a one-stop enterprise service center and the pioneering of a rapid approval model for industrial projects.

The city is also enhancing its appeal as a youth and talent-friendly destination, revamping talent support policies to aid seamless employment and entrepreneurship, drawing inspiration from cities such as Shanghai and Hangzhou. This initiative aims to create vibrant communities for young talents that integrate living, socializing, relaxation, innovation and entrepreneurship.

By upholding international service standards and embracing cultural diversity, Taicang has attracted numerous foreign enterprises and expatriates to settle and call the city their home.

To provide a more convenient working and living environment for expatriates, Taicang announced several new measures at the investment promotion conference and introduced the Hi Taicang Card. This comprehensive card covers financial transactions, communication services, hotels and specialized medical care, creating a convenient environment for foreigners to live and do business in the city.

haonan@chinadaily.com.cn

Taicang is an open and inclusive port city in East China's Jiangsu province. CHINA DAILY

Taicang launches the Hi Taicang Card, which aims to facilitate foreigners' entrepreneurship and life in the city, at a recent investment promotion conference held in Shanghai. CHINA DAILY