Vanguard of China's Export-oriented Regions

As one of China's earliest state-level development zones, Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area (transliterated as Taida and hereinafter referred to as TEDA) was founded on December 6, 1984 upon the approval of the state Council of China.

Since 1997 the State Ministry of Commerce (the former Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation) began to carry out comprehensive assessment among all the state-level development zones in six aspects, namely comprehensive economic strength, infrastructure capacity, operational cost, human resource availability, social environment, and technology innovation environment. With its comprehensive score topping the assessment list for nine successive years, TEDA has been widely appraised as the most attractive destination for investment in China and Asia as well as the most admired industrial park of China.

A Transportation Hub of China and the World

TEDA is situated at the converging point of the Circum-bohai Economic Ring and the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei megalopolis, with easy access to vast hinterland of North China, Northeast China and Northwest China. Relying on Beijing and Tianjin—two of the four municipalities directly under the Central Government, and facing Japan and South Korea across the sea, it can easily take the economic pulse of the North East Asia and the booming Asia-Pacific Economic Rim. It is a real-sense window and passage for China's opening-up. In the east, TEDA boasts Tianjin Port, the largest international trade port in North China, and is also adjacent to Tianjin Binhai International Airport, the largest airfreight center of China. It is only 145 kilometers away form Beijing International Airport. Expressways, light rail, freight railways, and intercity railway traverse TEDA and connect it to many domestic railway arteries as well as to the nationwide express-way system.

TEDA has built itself into a platform for China's communication with the global community by successfully hosting a series of international events. Moreover, it is also a reliable partner with numerous domestic and international industry association, chambers of commerce, trade organizations, and trade promoting agencies and has created more and business opportunities for enterprises. Today TEDA is recognized as a key window for exchanges and cooperation between China and the world.

A Gathering Place for Multinationals

By the end of 2006, TEDA had accumulatively approved 4,299 enterprises funded by foreign investors form 74 countries and regions (including Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan) With a total investment of 34.163 billion US dollars. Of the global Fortune 500 enterprises, 59 multinationals from 10 countries and regions have set up 129 enterprises here. Its four leading industries, namely, the electronics & telecommunications industry represented by Motorola, Samsung, Honeywell, and Panasonic, the mechanical and auto manufacturing industry represented by Toyota, SEW, and Emerson, the biopharmaceutical and chemical industry represented by Novo Nordisk, GlaxoSmithKline, and Novozymes, and the food & beverage industry represented by Tinghsin, Coca-Cola, and Nestle all perform handsomely over the years.

A Front-runner of Technology Innovation 

By the end of 2006, TEDA is home to 27 state-level engineering and technology research centers, 15 enterprise technical centers, 40 multinational R&D centers, 48 enterprise post-doctoral work stations, nine incubators for high-tech enterprises and six venture capital companies. These hi-tech agencies, altogether involving 1.726 billion yuan of hi-tech development funds and venture capital, have turned out to be the solid technology backup for the future growth of TEDA. A hi-tech innovation mechanism made up of domestic and oversea-funded R&D centers, hi-tech incubators, and increasingly mature investment and financing channels, talent incentives, and preferential policies.

An Eco-friendly and Harmonious Community

Building a livable city has always been a priority for TEDA. For many years, it faithfully implements veto power when examining environmental indicators of incoming project applicants and always says "no" to those with high energy consumption and heavy pollution. It obtained the ISO14000 environment quality certificate in 2001 and was appointed in 2002 as the pilot zone for a national environment management project, which was jointly hosted by the Chinese State Environmental Protection Administration and UNEP among Chinese industrial parks. As an active participant of international environmental protection cooperation, TEDA has initially formed its own eco-friendly water source through a waste water recycle project. In 2003, TEDA became a pioneer in eco-friendly industrial park building and has come up with a 10-to-15-year action plan with a purpose to reshape itself into a high-tech manufacturing center featuring industrial symbiosis and waste recycling.

Moreover, TEDA also strives to create a fashionable and elegant living atmosphere for its citizens. Necessary urban services such as overseas TV channels, household broadband accesses, bars and restaurants, supermarkets, shopping malls, stadiums, schools, libraries, and hospitals can full satisfy the needs of local residents. It is fair to say that TEDA is not only an emerging industrial zone but also a highly livable community.

The Most Attractive Investment Environment

Dynamic economy, favorable investment environment, well-established transportation network, world-class infrastructure, and abundant human resources, these facts may explain why so many multinational companies flocked to TEDA to invest and why TEDA is called the most admired place by the business world.

The principles of "a limited government" and "the rule of law" have already been turned into reality in TEDA Here laws and regulation are already in place in seven key aspects including investment promotion, science and technology development, infrastructure, urban administration, labor and social security, administrative affairs, etc. Such a fully-fledged legal framework is the very groundwork and edge of the region's sustained economic growth.

Infinite Growth Potential

The Tianjin New Coastal District (the TNCD, also known as Tianjin Binhai New Area) became a bright spot of the Circum-Bohai Economic Ring in 2005 when Mr.Wen Jiabao, Premier of the State Council of China, praised it as "China's third economic growth engine after the Pearl River Delta and the Yangtze River Delta " in his speech. In 2006, this region has been officially included into the country's development strategy and designated as a pilot farm for China's comprehensive reform. The high expectation of the central Government promises the leading role of the TNCD in the economic landscape of the circum-Bohai rim. TEDA, the kernel part of TNCD, also awaits fresh development opportunities. Already a base for modern manufacturing industry and hi-tech incubation, TEDA is now working equally hard to promote the outsourcing industry. It is prepared to welcome old and new clients with a more complete industrial chain and a more open mind.