NETDA aims to join ranks of national top development zones

Senior management of the Nantong Economic & Technological Development Area – located in Nantong city in East China's Jiangsu province  – recently outlined their goal to push the NETDA up the rankings of national development zones in China.

Zhang Jianhua, secretary of the Party working committee of the NETDA, told the 13th Nantong Municipal Congress of the Communist Party of China on Sept 26, that, "more efforts should be made to build the NETDA, to ensure the development zone ranks among the top development zones in China."  

Last year the NETDA ranked 29th among the national development zones, according to an evaluation released in January.

NETDA achieves key industries chain development

As part of the drive, the development zone has reportedly accelerated its push for the construction of key industries – including the medical and health industry, the new energy industry, as well as the information technology and high-end equipment manufacturing sectors. That initiative was mapped out in the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25).

Support for innovation, entrepreneurship

Project support in the NETDA worth a maximum of 50 million yuan ($7.73 million) will also reportedly be provided to new hires from overseas, including Nobel Prize winners and academicians.

Employment support for local enterprises

Moreover, within three years, in the NETDA a maximum salary subsidy of 200,000 yuan will be given to individuals who are either academicians or enrolled in the National Talent Plan.

NETDA's foreign direct investment shines

Progress has already reportedly been made in increasing the NETDA's ranking.

In the first half of the current year, the NETDA signed up 36 new settled projects contracts, involving a total investment of 40.8 billion yuan ($6.3 billion).

Of these, a group of 10 major projects worth over 1 billion yuan were started, with a total investment of 33 billion yuan.