REGIONAL> Highlights
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REGIONAL> Highlights
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Chengdu is becoming an emerging global outsourcing city
By Su Mingliang and Lu Hongyan (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-11-14 16:56
Chengdu is one of China’s top ten dynamic economic cities. Among all inland cities in China, Chengdu attracted the most foreign investment in 2007. Increasing numbers of foreign invested corporations run successful businesses in Chengdu. Intel set up its fifth global chip testing factory in Chengdu, with a total investment of US$450 million, which was the largest foreign investment project so far in west China. Chengdu is widely regarded as the gateway to the massive markets of western China with a combined population of 300 million. Seven countries have set up their Consulate General in Chengdu, including the U.S., Germany, France, South Korea, Singapore, and Thailand. Seventeen foreign banks and insurance companies have established branches here. Chengdu is an ideal city for international business people to live and work in. The city was rated by Fortune magazine in 2007 as one of the top ten best commercial cities in the Chinese mainland. Chengdu has 11 five-star hotels, including the Shangri-la and the Intercontinental. Meanwhile, more than 10 bilingual schools are available for international students. Ito-Yokado, Walmart, Metro, and Auchan are opened here.
Chengdu has convenient transportation systems. The city has one of China’s densest highway networks, with 10 expressways so far. Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport is one of six largest aviation hubs in China. In 2006, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines started direct flights between Chengdu and Amsterdam, making Chengdu the fourth city in China with flights to Europe. There will soon be direct flights between Chengdu and North America. The first subway line will start running in 2010. With strong support and assistance by the local government, Chengdu is becoming an emerging global software and outsourcing city. In 2006, Chengdu was approved as one of the first five National IT Service Outsourcing Base cities by MOFCOM. In October 2008, Chengdu was ranked 37 among the top emerging global outsourcing cities in a recent global service study. An increasing number of IT and outsourcing companies such as IBM, SAP, Oracle, Symantec, Motorola, Ericsson, Alcatel, Nokia, NEC, Wipro, Genpact, EDS have operations in Chengdu. The large number of universities and research institutes in Chengdu provide over 20,000 graduates per year. In addition, Chengdu’s labour costs are quite competitive, accounting for about two thirds of the wages in coastal cities. Chengdu has a well developed software park with a world-class infrastructure and is well connected with other major cities such as Beijing and Shanghai. Tianfu Software Park, located in Chengdu Hi-tech District, is only a 15-minute drive from downtown Chengdu. The park has already attracted over 200 software and outsourcing companies. In 2010, the park is expected to fulfill its ambitious goal to cover an area of 9 square kilometers with 200,000 IT staff. Chengdu is a charming city with excellent human resources, a comfortable living environment, pleasant weather, a unique geographic environment, attractive tourist resources, a fascinating culture, colorful folk arts, and delicious foods. All of these have contributed to making Chengdu an amazing city of leisure. Depictions of the ancient Sun God Bird were excavated in Chengdu. With a history of 2,300 years, it is a symbol of Chinese cultural heritage, reflecting the ancient civilization and amazing culture of the city. Today, Chengdu is favored by an increasing number of IT and outsourcing companies. We are looking forward to more cooperation with outsourcing enterprises at home and abroad. We wish all delegates attending the Gartner China Outsourcing Summit 2008 a successful trip and a swift return to Chengdu, an emerging global outsourcing destination, said Ge Honglin, mayor of Chengdu.
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