CHINA DAILY FRIDAY, JULY 6, 2012 sipspecial 17 SIP leads others , Singapore in going global By ZHOU FURONG in , Jiangsu [email protected]

After 18 years of development, the talk cooperation in Jiangsu province has evolved from a concept on paper into a mature powerhouse capable of driving the surrounding economy. Learning from the experiences of developed countries has been a shortcut to success for many economic zones in China. Formed through a partnership between China and Singapore, the Suzhou Industrial Park has been hailed as a successful model for cooperation between nations.

Outside assistance In 1994, the administrators of the industrial park selected nine young experts to go to Singapore to benefit from the country’s vast experience in urban planning and manage- ment. The success of the industrial park can be viewed as a result of the cooperation between China and Singapore. And the so-called Singaporean model has proven fruitful. Since it first began to take shape, the park has borrowed from the experience of Singapore in three aspects: modern urban planning, construction and management; the devel- opment of an export-oriented economy; and social public administration, said its administrative committee director Yang Zhiping.

PHOTOS BY GE BAOJIAN / FOR The park has absorbed many of the best features of the Ligong Causeway, the only long dike along the Jinji Lake in the Suzhou Industrial Park, is the first commercial street with distinctive Chinese features in Suzhou. Singaporean model in terms of the objective and develop- ment pattern, which has pushed the industrial park to become increasingly integrated into the global economic By ZHOU FURONG improving the partnership Center of the Top 1,000 Pro- also in full swing. Based on The park is thankful for the system. in Suzhou, Jiangsu between China and Singapore, gram”. The regional service- the premise of building a experiences it has gained from During the last 10 years, more than 2,000 people from the [email protected] said the park’s director of its centered economy continues comprehensive business city, Singapore, according to man- industrial park have been sent to Singapore to receive train- administrative committee to grow rapidly, with the the design of Huxi CBD will agement. ing, and every one of these was shocked by the meticulous- The opening of the 14th Yang Zhiping. incremental value of the ser- be further optimized, the The park sent 188 profes- ness and rigor as well as scientific and humanized attitude China-Singapore Joint Steer- The park’s growth has main- vice industry accounting for construction of Jinji Lake sional managers to Singapore of the Singaporeans. ing Council Meeting is held tained strong momentum 35.7 percent of the GDP in Financial and Trade Zone, to attend software training, There still are many things for the leadership of the indus- today in Suzhou Industrial during recent years. 2011. Yangcheng Lake Resort, Moon and two biology and nano- trial park to learn from the Singaporean model, as it guides Park in the city of Suzhou, In 2011, it recorded a In terms of science and Bay Business and oth- meter technicians to JTC the development of the park in the future. Jiangsu province. regional general budgetary innovation, the park has er key districts will be acceler- Corporation of Singapore The park is the biggest cooperative project between the The industrial park, which income of 16.4 billion yuan, strong vitality. ated, and a batch of high-rises for on-the-job training in governments of China and Singapore as well as an important marked its 18th anniversary $1.94 billion in newly added In 2011, the park’s total and ultra-high buildings will science and technology car- window for China’s opening-up and reform and a successful this year, provides a perfect actual use of foreign invest- number of newly added sci- be built, the director noted. rier planning, construction paradigm of international cooperation. platform for cooperation ment, and a total trade vol- ence and technology projects Furthermore, the regional and management, effectively It is also one of the fastest-developing and most globally between the two nations, said ume of $77 billion. reached 630, ranking first in ecological environment will be propelling the second round competitive development zones in the world. local officials. The industrial park has Suzhou. continuously optimized. of startup development in The concepts taken from Singapore’s model have become The park is co-developed developed a diversified econ- Financial input in the sci- The social undertakings of the park and marking a new the foundation for the park’s strategy of going global. through a collaboration omy, and it has now entered ence and technology sector the park are also a highlight. success of its strategy to go between the governments of a stage of transformation and further increased, with invest- The industrial park’s global. Going global China and Singapore. upgrades. ment in R&D accounting for archives and cultural cen- Premier Wen Jiabao once In 2010, Jiang Hongkun, having just been appointed Party Over the last 18 years, the A batch of key programs 4.6 percent of the GDP. This ter are honored as National said that Suzhou Industrial secretary of Suzhou City Committee, embarked on an inves- industrial park has served and emerging industrial investment has paid dividends Grade-A Venues. Park has “kept its characteris- tigation of the industrial park. as a pilot project for China’s projects has been launched, in terms of an increase in the A group of schools, hospi- tics throughout the coopera- After listening carefully to the introduction of the park’s reform and opening-up. including Samsung’s high liq- amount of patented technol- tals, supermarkets, galleries, tion, made developments in development, he said “the experiences and management Since the 13th China-Sin- uid crystal panel, and nano- ogy coming out of the park. museums as well as tourist and practice, achieved innovation model of the industrial park should be effectively expanded gapore Joint Steering Council technology has also witnessed “Innovative profession- leisure amenities have been in the reference, made great to the entire city.” Meeting in 2011, the indus- rapid growth as a prioritized als continue to flock to the completed and put into service. achievements and accumulat- “We should also widen our vision to let this model be trial park has been following sector. park, which is taking a lead The social security system ed rich experience”. He hopes applied in Jiangsu and other places in China as well,” he said. the guidelines of the council The industrial park’s Dong- among the development zones is being further improved and the park will “play a key pilot Relying on its 18 years of experience, the park is now and pushing forward new sha Lake Equity Investment nationwide in terms of talent the integration of governance and experimental role in the driving its own development rather than relying on outside initiatives in terms of socio- Center has become the only attraction,” Yang said. over districts and townships overall development of south- forces. economic development and national “Venture Capital Its urban construction is has been accelerated. ern Jiangsu.” The experience of the Singaporean model has been inter- nalized by the industrial park and is now ready for export. The establishment of the Suzhou-Suqian Industrial Park in 2006 symbolized the beginning of the Suzhou Industrial Park’s going global strategy. “With the development and upgrading of industries, Suzhou Industrial the park itself cannot meet the increasing demands, thus new areas are required to carry on the development,” said the person in charge of the industrial park’s asset Park strong at 18 administration office, who declined to be named. As a result, “linked development” with other regions came into being. By ZHOU FURONG the convenience brought by “The intercity urban development was the culmination of in Suzhou, Jiangsu the development of transpor- the industrial park’s 18-year development because it has both [email protected] tation in the Suzhou Indus- absorbed the external experiences and taken into consider- trial Park, especially the Metro ation local conditions,” the person said. Eighteen years is time Line No 1 and Line No 5. “It is a ‘high-speed railway’ of regional economic develop- enough for an infant to grow Besides that, hotels, shop- ment and also an ideal way to explore more external oppor- into an adult, and it is also ping malls and other facilities tunities,” he said. plenty of time for an experi- will be constructed as well. Another example of intercity cooperation happened in late mental industrial park to Suzhou Center will be the big- 2011, when an agreement was signed in Hefei, Anhui prov- mature into a prosperous new gest city complex in China in ince, to build the Suzhou-Chuzhou Modern Industrial Park district. the near future, and it will also project through the joint efforts of the Suzhou Industrial Over the years, the Suzhou bring prosperity to the service Park and the municipal government of Chuzhou. Industrial Park has emerged as industry of the Suzhou Indus- The signing of the project agreement marked the start of The two towers of the Oriental Gate, a new landmark building, were merged together at the top a marvelous new town within trial Park. earlier this year. It is expected to become the highest building in Suzhou. construction on an Anhui version of the Suzhou Industrial a city that is capable of attract- On the morning of May 20, Park. The Anhui park covers 36 sq km and has investments ing businesses and entrepre- department store Shinkong totaling 10 billion yuan ($1.6 billion). neurs from around the world. Mitsukoshi broke ground on a including Sepax Technologies The industrial park was the largest project proposal Chu- In the colorful days of May, the new location in the park, and and UNIHZ Technologies. zhou has ever introduced, and was expected to drive a Suzhou Industrial Park holds a it will welcome its first cus- Also, 14 projects in regional investment of 130 billion yuan. series of activities to celebrate tomers in 2014. emerging sectors, including As a leader among similar economic zones, the Suzhou its annual anniversary. Shinkong Mitsukoshi is a Tongcheng and Snail, were park has had no other examples to follow during its efforts As it marks this grand anni- leading retail chain brand in announced at the ceremony. to go global, and the industrial park has to test each step versary, there is much good Taiwan. All these projects add up to a before actually taking it. All models for going global, whether news to encourage people, After two decades of con- total of 46 billion yuan. government-backed or market-based, have to be rolled out entrepreneurs and govern- stant efforts, it continues to Huang Xueying of Sepax gradually. ment leaders within the park. innovate and offer a pleasant Technologies, Zhang Pengfei The Suzhou-Suqian Industrial park has become a new Suzhou Center, a new city shopping experience. of Beken Corporation, and model for trans-regional cooperation, and the Su-Tong complex in the industrial park, The Shinkong Mitsukoshi Jiang Biwang of Nano-Micro Science and Technology Park has become a paradigm for broke ground on May 20. Suzhou Industrial Park store Biotech, recognized by the commercial cooperation. According to the blueprint, is to be located at the center Organization Department of Suzhou Center covers 21.1 of Jinji Lake business dis- the CPC Central Committee hectares and the floor area trict, with a total floor area of as Three Global Experts, said Since it first began to take shape, totals more than 18.2 million 162,000 square meters dedi- the Suzhou Industrial Park International staff members of companies in the Suzhou the park has borrowed from the square meters. cated to general merchandise was the first choice for their Industrial Park participate in a marathon. Ten skyscrapers will be shopping and offices. business startups. experience of Singapore in three constructed in the future, two In addition, to celebrate its Officials also announced at announced the official open- agreed to extensive coopera- aspects: modern urban planning, of which will be 450 and 500 18th anniversary, the park the grand celebration ceremo- ing of the China-Singapore tion in data exchange, content construction and management; the meters high, respectively. organized on May 20 a joint ny that the Suzhou Industrial Window on the morning of development and HR com- The total investment is contract-signing and opening Park now has more than 4,600 May 24 at Dushu Lake Library. munication. development of an export-oriented expected to amount to 28.5 ceremony at the SIPAC Build- multinational enterprises and The cooperation program The project was initiated last economy; and social public admin- billion yuan, and the construc- ing. 250 R&D centers. integrates several functions of year, and the China-Singapore istration.” tion is to be completed by the China Mobile Jiangsu The Suzhou Dushu Lake literature search, exchanges, Theme Literature Center will end of June 2017. unveiled a plaque for its Education Innovation exhibitions, research, and con- also serve as an important YANG ZHIPING DIRECTOR OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE OF THE Because of its unique loca- e-business base, and the park’s Park Administrative Com- sultancy services. platform for studying and ‘‘ SUZHOU INDUSTRIAL PARK tion in the west of the Jinji government signed contracts mittee and the National The two parties signed a introducing the experience of Lake, Suzhou Center enjoys with 18 high-tech projects, Library Board of Singapore long-term memorandum and the industrial park.