Zhangjiagang in East China's Jiangsu steps up efforts to promote the innovative development of its private enterprises. [Photo/zjgonline.com.cn]

Seventeen Zhangjiagang firms were included in the 2020 list of Suzhou's top 100 private companies, more than any other area in the city, according to an Aug 4 local news report.

Among the listed companies, most of which are from the manufacturing industry, are Jiangsu Shagang Group, Jiangsu Yonggang Group and Jiangsu Guotai International Group. 

In recent years, Zhangjiagang has ramped up efforts to promote the innovative development of its private enterprises, a move which has enabled the city's private sector to maintain a steady growth momentum.

With the opening of the Shanghai-Suzhou-Nantong Railway in July, Zhangjiagang will form a new development model by taking full advantage of the port and railway, creating a multimodal transport network composed of highways, railways and waterways. This has in turn led to more Global 500 companies, including American companies DuPont and Honeywell, setting up offices in the city.

The multimodal transport network will greatly improve traffic efficiency in the city and accelerate the integration of the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region, making Zhangjiagang a hot spot for Shanghai enterprises.  

Statistics show that the gross value of the industrial output of above-designated-scale enterprises in Zhangjiagang reached 453 billion yuan ($65.28 billion) last year.

Zhangjiagang is currently home to more than 10,000 industrial enterprises, including 1,009 foreign-funded firms. Fifty-six Fortune 500 companies have been cultivated or brought in by the city.

During the process of integrating itself into the YRD region, Zhangjiagang has shown strong vitality in its five strategic emerging industries - new energy vehicles, hydrogen energy resources, compound semiconductors, high performance materials and intelligent equipment.

Zhangjiagang in May released a slew of supportive measures aimed at better serving private businesses, protecting the rights and interests of entrepreneurs and creating a sound business environment in its 15 key areas.