Industry has taken a prominent role in Fengxian District's economic development in the last few years.
Last year, the district's industrial output reached 45.5 billion yuan (US$5.48 billion), up 42 percent from a year earlier. The growth was the second highest among the city's suburban districts.
Output from the district's high-tech industry topped 8.8 billion yuan, up 125 percent.
"It's really hard for us, a suburban district, to attract investment from high-tech enterprises. We are trying to develop electricity distribution equipment manufacturing - our district's traditional pillar industry for the past 20 years," said an official, identified as Pan, from the district's economic committee.
The district plans to grab a 5 to 8 percent market share in electricity distribution equipment nationwide before 2010. That would equal 1 to 4 percent more than it current holds.
In 2003, the output of Fengxian's electricity distribution equipment industry reached about 3.5 billion yuan, 2.5 billion yuan more than 2001. The figure accounts for one quarter of the city's total.
And in the first two months of this year, year-on-year growth reached 70 percent for the district's pillar industry.
"Of course, the lack of electricity in the city in recent years provides a great opportunity for our industry," said Pan, "our supply still can not satisfy the market's hot demand."
The shortfall about a million kilowatts in the city forced many factories to shift production to nights and weekends to avoid the peak load time, and even halt production at times.
Last year, Fengxian attracted investment of 1.3 billion yuan connected to the industry. In 2001, there were 34 firms in the business, now there are more than 160 manufacturers.
Schneider Electric and Siemens AG, two global electric equipment giants, also launched plants in the district.
To produce more high-quality products with added value, the district has cooperated with the Shanghai Academy of Science and Technology.
Besides the electricity distribution equipment industry, the district is trying to build up another three industry zones for fine chemical, logistics and manufacturing industries moved from downtown areas.
"Every district is eager to attract high-tech industry," Pan said. "But since we are in the suburbs, we have to base things on our situation."
The district set up the fine chemical industry zone, near Shanghai Chemical Industry Park, hoping its proximity would work to its advantage - especially in pharmaceutical and biotech areas.
Fengxian is also interested in expanding into logistics. The district selected its eastern area that neighbors the sea to develop international trade and logistics.
To optimize resources, the four            industry zones are expected to sort and relocate 80 percent of the district's enterprises by the end of 2005.