Dalian mayor Xia Deren recently chaired a foreign investment meeting to lay out plans for the implementation of projects firmed up during investment promotion missions to Switzerland, the Middle East and Hong Kong not long ago. He stressed that as the global financial crisis continues to spread, the local business community must strengthen confidence, be ready to endure hardships, be innovative in their working approaches, be good at spotting investment opportunities, and step up efforts to attract investment under the new situation in order to further open the city to foreign investment and optimise its industrial structure.
Xia Deren led a government delegation to Switzerland, the Middle East and Hong Kong between 26 January and 6 February. During this period, various prefectures, cities and pioneer zones also sent delegations to the Middle East and Hong Kong to promote investment. These missions produced remarkable results. Intel chairman Craig Barrett told Xia Deren in their meeting that Intel's investment plan in Dalian remains unchanged and that the company intends to raise the technological standard and level of its Dalian chip plant.
Apart from the work done by the city government delegation, Zhongshan district and the city's land reserve centre signed a letter of intent with Great Eagle Holdings, Henderson Land Development, the Kerry Group and other Hong Kong companies for development in Donggang district; Xigang district reached an agreement with Hong Kong's Hang Lung Properties for the construction of the Rmb3 billion Hang Lung Plaza project; Ganjingzi district promoted its Qihang Plaza and international wine-tasting Expo Garden projects in Hong Kong; Jinzhou district secured a pledge from Hong Kong's Shimao Group to increase investment in its Golden Beach Holiday Resort project and an agreement with China Gas Holdings on supplying gas to urban households; Lushunkou district and the Dalian city tourism bureau will join hands with Hong Kong's China Travel Service in the integration and development of Dalian's tourism resources.
These investment promotion missions have opened the eyes of Dalian businessmen. The city government delegation met with Sheikh Maktoum of Dubai and established ties with new clients in the United Arab Emirates and Switzerland, and found new clues for attracting investment from them. "There are many big companies in the United Arab Emirates, many of which are looking for investment opportunities overseas. Regrettably we did not know much about Dalian and had little contact with it in the past," said Mohammed Sharaf, CEO of Dubai Ports World.
