Lying in the east of Shanghai with an area of 1,210 square kilometers, Pudong New Area is located on the eastern bank of the Huangpu River and at the estuary of the Yangtze River.

Pudong is a pioneer to spearhead China’s policies of opening-up to the outside world, and is home to China’s first pilot free trade zone. Pudong is one of the areas in China that have attracted the largest foreign investment with the best return on investment (ROI) and the most headquarters of foreign companies.

In 2021, Pudong’s actual use of foreign investment was up to 10.7 billion yuan, accounting for 47.5 percent of Shanghai's total. By the end of 2021, a total of 389 regional headquarters (RHQs) of MNCs were recognized in Pudong, taking up 47 percent of the city's total.

During the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) period, Pudong will fully tap into its geographical advantages to build three world-class industry clusters in integrated circuits, biopharmaceuticals and artificial intelligence, and lead the development of advanced manufacturing clusters and modern service industries by focusing on six key industries and six major service sectors.

Investment Highlights

  Three Core Industries:

ICs

Biopharmaceuticals

AI

  Six Key Industries:

Self-developed microchips

Intelligent manufacturing

Innovative drugs

Vehicles of the future

Aerospace

Big data

Business-supporting Facilities

  Lujiazui Finance and Trade Zone:

A pioneer in the opening-up of China’s financial sector with sound financial ecosystem

Key Buildings: Shanghai Tower, Shanghai World Financial Center, Shanghai Jinmao Tower, Shanghai International Finance Center

  Zhangjiang Science City:

Home to 40 percent of Shanghai’s foreign-funded R&D institutions and 48 percent of the city’s listed companies on the STAR Market of the Shanghai Stock Market, with the number of valid invention patents per 10,000 people ranking among the top in Shanghai

Key Zones: Zhangjiang Headquarters Park, Zhangjiang Robot Valley, Zhangjiang Biotech and Pharmaceutical Industrial Base, Integrated Circuit Design Industrial Park, International Medical Zone

  Jinqiao Economic and Technological Development Zone:

The first state-level export-oriented processing development zone approved by the State Council of China, contributing one-fourth of the industrial output of Pudong New Area with a focus on development of the key industries and producer services

Key Sites: City of Elite, Jinding Area, Jinmin Park, Jinqiao Intelligent Valley

  International Tourism Resort:

Consisting of five parts dedicated to urban life, urban leisure & tourism, Chinese culture, urban ecology and international cultural exchanges respectively, among which the southern part is still under development, with a total construction area of about 2.2 million square meters

Key Buildings: Shendi Center, Shanghai Disneyland Hotel, Shanghai Village

Policy Support

  High-level Opening-up

The rules and regulations formulated by the Shanghai Municipal People's Congress and its Standing Committee in compliance with the Constitution of China and other basic laws and administrative regulations can be implemented locally specific to Pudong's practices of reform and innovation.

  Headquarters Economy

Encouraging headquarters to enhance their capacities and increase capital investment in Pudong;

Attracting more headquarters of both domestic and foreign companies and international functional institutions to gather in Pudong;

Granting incentives to headquarters which make economic contributions to Pudong either by settling down, increasing investment, or doing business

  Strategic Emerging Industries

Giving rewards to high-tech enterprises which make economic contributions to Pudong in strategic emerging industries, including new-generation IT, high-end equipment, new materials, biology, new energy vehicles, renewable energy, energy conservation & environmental protection, digital creativity and relevant services, or traditional advanced industries such as the automotive and shipping industries

  Professional Services

Providing rewards for professional service providers which make economic contributions to Pudong in areas such as legal services, accounting, intellectual property, human resources, consulting and design

  Talent Development

Allowing fresh foreign graduates of both domestic and foreign universities to directly apply for work permits; opening a new channel for high-caliber foreign professionals to apply for permanent residence and household registration in Shanghai; and setting up China’s first Administration of Overseas Talents, Pudong International Talent Port, and a one-stop online portal tailored for foreigners working in China.

Establishing in Shanghai Free Trade Zone (FTZ) China's first fast-service channel for recommendation-based permanent residence application for high-level overseas professionals, and facilitating the application of Port Visa for foreign workers

Launching a pilot program to facilitate remuneration-related foreign currency conversion for foreign professionals, and providing them with talent apartments and housing subsidies.

Sources: Shanghai Foreign Investment Guide 2022 and 2023, Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization