Development and achievement of NETDA

A panorama of Nantong Economic and Technological Development Area. [Photo provided to en.nantong.gov.cn]

Nantong Economic and Technological Development Area (NETDA) was among the first group of 14 national-level economic and technological development zones in China. It was established on Dec 19, 1984 upon the approval of the central government. Situated in the southeast of the Nantong downtown area, the development zone covers a total area of 184 square kilometers and is home to 300,000 permanent residents.

Thanks to the Suzhou-Nantong Yangtze River Bridge, the largest cable-stayed bridge in the world, and the Chongming-Qidong Bridge, an eastern coastal bridge which crosses over the Yangtze River, the development zone has become fully integrated into Shanghai's one-hour economic circle. 

In 2023, NETDA achieved a regional GDP of over 90 billion yuan ($12.28 billion), with a per capita GDP of 263,300 yuan. The area's industrial output reached 200.5 billion yuan, while the service sector generated 151.6 billion yuan.

Statistics show that, in 2023, NETDA inked 56 projects with a registered capital of 500 million yuan. Total investment surpassed 46.5 billion yuan, including 18 foreign-funded projects with a total investment of over $1.3 billion and 38 domestic projects with a total investment of around 37.3 billion yuan.

The development zone has spared no effort to promote economic internationalization. Many companies have globally-leading technological and production capacities. They are separated into six major industrial clusters: modern equipment manufacturing, new materials, new medicine, new energy, modern textiles, and service outsourcing. The development zone has grown into an advanced manufacturing base utilizing foreign investment in the Yangtze River Delta area as well as a key industrial base in Shanghai's one-hour economic circle.