40 Years of Reform and Opening Up: Pudong authorities encouraging enterprises to go big on tech

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02:13

China announced the opening-up and development of Shanghai's Pudong in 1990. Now the New Area is looking to use the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up program to drive even more growth and development. Authorities are encouraging more local and international enterprises in Pudong to go big on tech. Rory Coen has more.

Michael Kruppe, general manager of Shanghai New International Expo Center, has been in China's largest industrial and commercial city since he left Germany thirty years ago. He used to work in the food trade. But a few years ago, he started working for the exhibition service industry in Pudong.

MICHAEL KRUPPE, GENERAL MANAGER SHANGHAI NEW INTERNATIONAL EXPO CENTER "Now you can see the wonderful development of Pudong. The convenience, security and speed of investment, the attitude of the government and so on. All these are for the benefit of the investors. So it attracts me and other foreigners to invest here."

Why did he change career to the service sector?

Michael found that Pudong was focused on the service trade, by switching from production and processing.

And authorities had established a legal environment which sat well with the international enterprises.

In the business service center, we found a special window. It's for companies to give specific requirements to improve the new area.

JIANG HONGJUN, DIRECTOR BUSINESS SERVICE CENTER OF PUDONG NEW AREA "The purpose of setting up the window is to draw on the wisdom of the people in order to help us deepen reform and optimize service."

Pudong authorities send Chinese companies abroad, and encourages international companies to set up offices in China.

Apart from the special economic zone, Pudong also has other zones in various forms, such as ones dedicated to hi-tech development, export processing and free trade.

WANG ZHAN, FORMER PRESIDENT SHANGHAI ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES "These have pushed forward the opening up, forced reform and promoted development. I think it's the only way for Pudong."

Pudong is building a world-class center for trade, shipping, finance and technology.

At the same time, it's working hard to provide more impetus for innovation and development.

Rory Coen CGTN.