Tianjin development area keeps top spot for 15th year

The Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area is at the top of a list of State-level economic and technological development zones, according to the latest evaluation of the zones from the Ministry of Commerce.

The development area has held that leading position for 15 consecutive years.

It had a GDP of more than 200 billion yuan ($32.12 billon) last year, an increase of 23 percent from 2011, and is an important economic zone not only for Tianjin but also many multinational corporations.

More than 5,000 foreign companies from about 60 countries and regions have invested in the Tianjin development area.

Novozymes, the world's largest manufacturer of industrial enzymes and industrial microbial agents, opened a laboratory in Tianjin in September - the first of its kind to operate outside Denmark - to cater for global needs.

Twenty years ago, the Danish company chose the development area as a way to establish a presence in the Chinese market.

"Access to the local market with local operations is key to Novozymes' global competitiveness," said Michael Christiansen, regional president of Novozymes China.

"(The development area) met the three critical parameters for us to start business in China in 1993, which are: good infrastructure, a developed transportation system and sufficient room for growth," Christiansen added.

He said Novozymes' expansion in the Tianjin development area has benefited from the support officials in Tianjin and the development area have given to foreign investments.

"(The development area) has led the way among all of the economic development zones in China for many years, because of its excellent infrastructure and exceptional service system," he said.

Another company to establish a branch in the development area is PPF Group, the largest financial and investment company in Central and Eastern Europe, whose majority shareholder is Czech billionaire Petr Kellner.

In December 2010, PPF established Home Credit Consumer Finance Company in the development area because of favorable environment created by the local government, said Michal Skocil, general manager of Home Credit CFC.

"Tianjin ... is an ideal market for consumer-financing services. What's more, the city has a vibrant retail industry - a solid presence of both national and local retailers - and has shown strong momentum in recent years," he said.

According to Skocil, the Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area offers a range of favorable government policies that have helped in the development of the company's local business.

The local government has set itself the ambitious goal of supporting foreign investors and using the development area to find more opportunities in China.

By the end of 2015, the Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area is expected to become a multifunctional economic development zone containing advanced-manufacturing industries, as well as more high-end service and bases for scientific and technical innovation, said He Shushan, chairman of the development area's administrative commission.

"It will also be used as a base by new strategic industries - as a comprehensive functional area with a heavy-chemical industry and port industry," He said.

Contact the writers at zhaoyanrong@chinadaily.com.cn and li.xiang@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 01/11/2013 page14)