Shanghai recently certified 30 regional headquarters of multinational corporations and 15 foreign-funded research and development centers, strengthening the city's role as a hub for global business. Pudong New Area embraces 12 of the headquarters and three of the R&D centers, underscoring its central role.

The newly accredited companies are drawn from Shanghai's priority development sectors, including biomedicine, smart manufacturing, and fashionable consumer goods. Among them is Pudong-based Paul Hartmann AG (Shanghai) Trade Co Ltd, a major player in the biomedicine sector.

The company — a subsidiary of German healthcare giant Paul Hartmann AG — has a foothold in Shanghai for 27 years. Liu Xuan, the company's general manager, described the certification as a significant milestone in its development in China. Liu pointed out Shanghai's strong talent pool, innovation capabilities, and openness to international business as key drivers of its continued growth.

Other certified firms in Pudong, such as Hubner Interface Systems (Shanghai) Co Ltd and Gaztransport & Technigaz (Shanghai), reflect the district's industrial diversity. These companies operate across sectors, including transport equipment and machinery equipment.

Pudong's corporate landscape is further distinguished by its concentration of global expertise. Azelis (Shanghai) China Co Ltd now serves as the Greater China headquarters for Azelis, a Belgian distributor of specialty chemicals and food ingredients. Since entering China in 2012, Azelis has used Shanghai as its launchpad for regional expansion into Beijing, Tianjin, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong, and now serves more than 3,000 customers.

Jackson Chu, managing director of Azelis China, called the certification a milestone in the company's journey, noting China's vibrant market and its growing role in global innovation. He added that Azelis plans to expand its local team, foster innovation with an international outlook, and tailor its offerings to meet local demand.

The diverse origins of these certified firms reflect Pudong's broad international appeal. Gaztransport & Technigaz (Shanghai) is the regional headquarters by France's Gaztransport & Technigaz (GTT), a global leader in cryogenic containment systems for liquified natural gas. Ferrero Trading (Shanghai) Co Ltd is a regional headquarters set up by the Ferrero Group, the world's third-largest chocolate confectionery manufacturer.

As of May, Pudong has cumulatively attracted 487 certified MNC regional headquarters and 286 foreign-funded R&D centers, accounting for 46.7 percent and 47.3 percent of the city's total respectively. The area's headquarters economy continues to flourish, with paid-in foreign direct investment reaching $3.14 billion in the first five months of this year, a 32.3 percent year-on-year increase.

Source: Pudong New Area