Branding can bring city better services

Ideas on how to improve the branding of Shanghai's service, manufacturing, consumption and culture sectors have been put forward by the city's political advisers during a discussion session of the CPPCC Shanghai Committee yesterday.

Zhou Huilin, head of the publicity department of the Shanghai Party Committee, said the government will provide guidance and draw up relevant rules and regulations.

This year, a culture and art framework will be established as well as new museums and iconic art spaces.

The city is also striving to become a global film and television production center, a center of performance art and an Asian e-sports hub.

Former secretary of the Shanghai Committee of China Zhi Gong Party Feng Maolun also suggested there would be a huge demand for service providers, such as assurance and auditing firms, as preparation for the proposed Nasdaq-style board for technology companies gets underway.

"Most of the discussions have been focusing on how to support entrepreneurship and innovative businesses," he said.

"But the pilot registration-system for initial public offerings also requires qualified service providers and brokerages, which is also an indispensable part of the city's service brand."

The government will draft measures to develop and introduce professional brokerage services.

"This would form a healthy development cycle by bringing together professional service providers and also leverage the integrated development plan of the Yangtze River Delta region to extend the service to startup companies in the region," he added.

Feng Shuai, chairman of Shanghai Inoherb Cosmetics Co, proposed support for traditional Chinese medicine. She suggested the city set up a traditional Chinese medicine research and innovation center and also ensure researchers are better connected with market demand. "The use of Chinese herbals in cosmetics is still a blank spot in the booming personal care sector," she said.