Dalian operation a software park pacesetter

"We are developing a model software park for China," said Gao Wei, president of Dalian Software Park Co Ltd (DLSP) in Dalian, Liaoning.

DLSP began operations in 1998 and a decade later is one of China's most successful operations of its kind.

It is home to 170 foreign-invested firms, including 33 Fortune 500 companies like IBM, GE, Hewlett-Packard and Dell.

From the beginning DLSP was planned and built to meet world-class standards. "The buildings in DLSP are not only as beautiful as those in Silicon Valley and Tokyo, but also can provide the same support for the same criteria," said Gao.

"The offices for IT businesses are quite different from other buildings," Gao adds. "There are more personnel and more computers in one room, so when building an office we take into consideration more details like the placement of electrical outlets."

According to Gao, DLSP offers safe and environmentally responsible infrastructure as well as experience in customizing designs to the needs of IT companies. "Ten years of experience operating the park equips us with the ability to know what companies in our park want. And we do our utmost to facilitate them in realizing their aims," he added.

Over the past decade, DLSP continued to make improvements in providing better service to clients. Offices are built according to clients' requests. The park's managers are charged with providing long-term services to every tenant in the park, Gao said.

After acquiring extensive experience operating and managing its software park, DLSP is now considered an expert in the field and invited by numerous other Chinese cities to help manage their software parks.

DLSP is now participating in the operations of Suzhou National New and Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone in Jiangsu province and Wuhan Optical Valley Software Park in Hubei province. The software service outsourcing industrial park under construction in Tianjin is jointly funded and operated by DLSP and the Tianjin municipal government.

It has also received invitations from abroad. "A government institution in Pakistan sent us an invitation to help in building the local software outsourcing industry," Gao said.

Gao stressed that talented people are vital to the development of the outsourcing industry. Recognizing the need for qualified professionals, DLSP provides a bridge between companies and schools.

DLSP itself runs training institutions in Dalian and other domestic cities.

In addition, DLSP assists local firms to attract talented professionals with overseas educations. They have held IT job fairs in domestic cities, the United States, Canada and Japan.

"In the future, DLSP will continue to pursue its leading position in software park operation and management, and promote the development of China's software industry," said Gao.

(China Daily 03/18/2008 page16)