The delegation promoted the development environment and investment opportunities of Nantong, and deepened the cooperation with multinational corporations, organizations, associations and international sister cities.

By Li Tong

From 24th to 29th August local time, Nantong Economic and Trade Delegation carried out exchanges in Switzerland and Germany, to promote the development environment and investment opportunities of Nantong, and deepen the cooperation with multinational corporations, organizations, associations and international sister cities.

While in Switzerland, the delegation visited Chen Yun, Consul General of the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Zurich. The two parties carried out in-depth exchanges on promoting cooperation in industry, technology and talent between Nantong and Switzerland, and planned events including Swiss technology and innovation companies entering Nantong to be carried out by the end of the year. The delegation visited the headquarters of companies such as Siegfried, Syngenta and TE Connectivity, systematically understood the enterprises’ investment and development plans, and discussed about further cooperation.

The China Nantong-Switzerland Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum held on 26th August attracted representatives from many Fortune Global 500 companies and multinational chambers of commerce and associations including Sika AG and Swiss Machinery Association to participate. Senior executives from organizations and enterprises such as Swiss Centers, EurAsia Forum, TE Connectivity, and Calorifer Heat Transfer communicated and shared at the forum, clearly expressed the active willingness to visit Nantong for research and negotiation in the near future and to cooperate with relevant industrial parks.

While in Germany, the delegation went to the municipal government of Troisdorf, had a cordial meeting with the Mayor, Biber. The two parties had in-depth exchanges on establishing a mutual visit mechanism, deepening industrial and innovation cooperation and strengthening cultural exchanges. Handwerkskammer Bremen has more than 5400 member companies, and has a high reputation and a strong foundation in vocational education. The delegation had in-depth communication with Hans-Joachim Stehr, the president of the association about promotion of the highly skilled talents ‘dual system’ education vocational training project, and signed the Cooperation Framework Agreement.

Merck Group has been an ‘old friend’ of Nantong. It has been deeply rooted in Nantong for 10 years. It increased investment and expanded production for several times. The accumulated investment amount exceeded half of its total investment in China. In the headquarters of Merck Group, the delegation visited senior executives including Maike Becker-Krüger, the Chief Political Officer. Merck Group fully recognized Nantong’s superior investment environment, expressed that they would choose Nantong as the preferred place to increase investment in the Yangtze River Delta, and would further expand the industrial layout in Nantong.