The Yangtze River Delta region incorporates Shanghai District, Jiangsu Province, and Zhejiang Province. It is one of the most densely populated regions on earth, with over 150 million registered residents living in more than twenty developed cities including Nanjing, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Ningbo, Wuxi, and Changzhou.
In 2012, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce reported that there were 704 Australian-invested companies located in Jiangsu (415) and Zhejiang (289). This was more than Shanghai and Beijing respectively. While lots have changed since 2012, what hasn’t is the growing economic importance of the Yangtze River Delta population surrounding Shanghai.
The Yangtze River Delta (including Shanghai) is home to 31 economic and technological development, hi-tech and industrial parks (as of 2012). Local governments in the region are working hard to attract foreign investment in various sectors including; advanced manufacturing, health and elder care, medical technology, robotics, AI, and advanced engineering.
The people in the Delta are fast-growing in relative wealth and have a long history of international exposure. There are huge opportunities for Australian companies to sell high-quality, green, and safe food, beverages, and other consumer goods within the region. It is clear that the Delta region is strategically vital for Australian businesses and AustCham Shanghai is committed to helping members who are located in the Delta outside of Shanghai as well as assist businesses to expand and grow into a huge market on Shanghai’s doorstep.
DELTA WISH in the region
Since the beginning of this year, DELTA WISH has decided to expand its work in the Yangtze River Delta region through exploring cooperation with Chinese industry partners. We committed a full-time resource into the region to focus on developing membership, business engagement, and stakeholder relations within the Delta.