JETRO Shanghai Director: Hongqiao Development Zone’s Japanese pull

Covering an area of only 0.65 square kilometers, the Shanghai Hongqiao Economic and Technological Development Zone located in the west of Shanghai was planned in 1979, constructed in 1983 and became one of the first 14 economic and technological development zones approved by the State Council in 1986. Much favored by foreign businesses, it is now the only business district in China with the characteristics of a foreign trade center, which integrates the functions of exhibition, fair, office, business, living, travelling and foreign affairs.

Among the foreign businesses in the Zone, Japanese companies and institutions take up a large portion. Among them is JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization) Shanghai. Funded by the Japanese government, JETRO has played a crucial role in promoting Sino-Japanese trade and investment exchanges and Sino-Japanese economic cooperation.

Established in 1985, JETRO Shanghai is the 2nd representative office of JETRO established in the Chinese mainland after Beijing. It is also the largest JETRO representative office in China. Michiaki Oguri, Director of JETRO Shanghai, told Eastday.com that there are now 2,400 members in the Shanghai Japanese Commerce and Industry Club and one quarter of those are based in Changning, scattered around the Hongqiao Development Zone. The large number and high density is very rare in other parts of the world outside Japan.

(Changing looks of Hongqiao Development Zone from 1985 to 2003)