Rugao Port [Photo/ntfabu.com]

Three project deals worth 1 billion yuan ($143.7 million) each were signed on Feb 19 during a video conference held in Changjiang town, Rugao, a county-level city in Nantong.

The deals involved photoelectric materials, R&D of 5G technology, and port logistics and were the result of efforts made by the local government in attracting investment and improving government services.

A group of professionals have been working to develop WeChat mini programs and set up a big data center for investment attraction.

"The latest WeChat mini program includes information on the town's industrial plans, infrastructure and business environment, providing an easy way for investors from other regions to learn about the town's advantages," said Hou Haochen, member of the local investment attraction team.

Next, the team plans to use Douyin, a popular video sharing app, and official WeChat accounts to promote the town's business opportunities.

A project development department was established on Feb 28 to explore new methods of attracting investment through big data analysis, according to Chen Fengyun, deputy chief of the town.

In addition, the local government has streamlined administrative procedures and improved work efficiency by promoting online service platforms. From Feb 3 to 28, the local civil service center handled 7,920 issues, including 7,180 online and 740 offline.

Officials said the town is currently focusing on high-end new materials, intelligent equipment manufacturing, modern logistics, communication, shipping and stone materials.

Four business offices were established in Beijing, Shenzhen, Shanghai and the Suzhou-Wuxi-Changzhou area to facilitate communication and cooperation.