By Chen Ke
on 16th June, Plug and Play Nantong International Innovation Center opening ceremony and global resource matchmaking conference was held. After the event, a cross-border business project fast-track roadshow was held. More than 10 foreign science and technology enterprises that have achieved initial success brought their own ‘masterpieces’, and expected to seek cooperation opportunities in Nantong.
‘Hey, bro, I love the pattern of your T-shirt. I love Chinese culture.’ David Chausse from the United States gave an ‘American’ opening speech in fluent Chinese. He majored in Chinese language and culture in university. Now he has established a new logistics company based on artificial intelligence. ‘To put it simple, you can see it as the US version of “Lalamove” or “SF Express”. Of course, there are a lot of differences in detail.’ He introduced that although it was his first time to come to Nantong, after two site visits, he could feel that the economic development and environment of Nantong are very good.
Gernaz Abdullahian also shared the same feeling as Chausse. The powerful woman from the United States worked in globally renowned enterprises including Microsoft and Apple. Now she has founded an artificial intelligence production selection enterprise. While praising the environment of Nantong, she also mentioned that Nantong’s attitudes towards opening up to the outside world is admirable. ‘I cannot speak Chinese, but I have no difficulty in basic communication here. Whether it is the investment promotion staff of Nantong Development Zone or the corporate personnel we have contacted, they can communicate with us in fluent English, and their perspectives are also international.’
While good soft and hard environments are the foundations, the most important is the industry compatibility. It is also what foreign talents value. Aaron Daniel Capa, a Canadian, founded a pharmaceutical research and development company based on artificial intelligence. ‘There have been a globally renowned pharmaceutical company Merck and other relevant pharmaceutical companies in Nantong Economic and Technological Development Area, which means the biopharmaceutical industry here is very mature, and it has also a high degree of compatibility with our industries.’ Although it was Capa’s first time to visit Nantong, he obviously did a lot of ‘homework’. ‘Moreover, we also plan to expand into the field of agricultural technology. I have checked, and Nantong is also very advanced in agricultural technology. There is great potential for future cooperation.’
New technologies and new projects from overseas also opened up new opportunities for many Nantong enterprises. Once the roadshow on the stage was finished, some enterprises went to communicate with the exhibitors offstage. ‘Our company is also seeking new tracks for development. The projects which presented this time are all very good. There will be many opportunities for cooperation in the future.’ The person in charge of technological research and development of a listed company located in Nantong Economic and Technological Development Area said. And ‘the China expert’ Chausse shrugged, and said with a smile, ‘Nantong is very “nice”, and our projects are also very “attractive”. I believe that in the future there will be more exchanges, maybe I can also create a new world in Nantong.’
