A bird's-eye view of NETDA. [Photo/WeChat account: gh_78ba52d6e1ed]
The Nantong Economic and Technological Development Area (NETDA) secured 21 major projects with a combined investment of 24.63 billion yuan ($3.40 billion) in the first quarter of this year.
The projects include seven foreign-invested ones with a total investment of $590 million.
In the first three months of this year, construction on eight projects valued at over 500 million yuan each commenced and four projects started operations in NETDA.
This year, the development area has witnessed the landing or groundbreaking of projects valued at 100 million yuan each month. For example, in February, Syngenta Group, a seed and pesticide manufacturer, announced plans to build a production base in the area, and in March, Shanghai-based SAS Technology broke ground on the first phase of a semiconductor high-end equipment factory.
Centering on its leading industries and future industries, such as hydrogen energy and aerospace, NETDA has accelerated the cultivation of new quality productive forces via projects to promote high-end, digital, and green development.
In February, the development area signed cooperation agreements with eight universities and institutions, including Tsinghua University and the Jiangsu Service Center for Experts and Overseas Students.
NETDA also regards the creation of a top-notch business environment as a way to stabilize growth and advance high-quality development. For example, it has set up a special team to help local enterprises in the construction and operation of projects.