A new initiative that aims to put an international face on the coming-of-age national level Jiangbei New Area in Nanjing has been launched, igniting the zone’s acceleration on to the world stage as a hot spot for foreign investment.
The Qinglong Green Belt & Roller Park was the venue for yesterday’s event which started mid afternoon and ran into the evening. The event’s purpose was two fold; to celebrate the initiation of “Launch Pad” and to better inform guests as to mission of Jiangbei New Area.
An initiative of the Nanjing Foreign Affairs Service Association (NFASA), Launch Pad is part international business incubator for Jiangbei New Area and part a touchstone for the international community that serves to consult and advise both Jiangbei New Area and those with interests to cooperate with the zone.
A cross section of Nanjing’s international community was invited to yesterday’s ceremony; from business people to hoteliers and educators; entrepreneurs to parents with children at Nanjing International School.
Prior to the ceremony, a specially-laid-on bus also took many of the attendees for a visit to the Jiangbei New Area Planning Exhibition Hall.
Therein, guests were able to view the scale model of a completed Jiangbei New Area, as well as come to an understanding of its urban construction and the scientific and technological innovation that adds considerable advantage to the zone’s infrastructure.
The event, ostensibly a part of Nanjing Tech Week which concluded on Friday, saw older attendees listen to the remarks by local officials and speeches from VIP guests, while younger ones, having brought their skate boards along, blazed their way around the adjacent roller park.
First up on stage was Member of the Party Working Committee & Deputy Director of the Management Committee of Nanjing Jiangbei New Area, Chen Chanmei. Her remarks were followed by speeches by Managing Partner of D’Andrea & Partners Legal Counsel, Carlo D’Andrea; and Vice Chair Of AmCham Shanghai Nanjing Center Advisory Council, Rosemary Hu. Both the latter expressed their enthusiasm for potentially being among the first occupants within the Launch Pad office space, offering their services to the Jiangbei New Area business community.
Everyone walked away with full stomachs and smiles on their faces yesterday evening; the opening for Launch Pad having managed to make happy government officials, locals, foreigners and children. Now there’s something you don’t see every day.
