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.