Shanghai launched the English version on Feb 5 of its 8.0 action plan — designed to optimize the city’s business environment — on the International Services Shanghai Portal, which can be found on english.shanghai.gov.cn.
The move quickly caught the attention of multinational companies like Schneider Electric, whose corporate affairs director Yu Fang promptly shared the update with its headquarters.
Since last year, Shanghai’s business environment policies have been made available in English, ensuring accurate and timely communications with global stakeholders.
“Our headquarters pays close attention to policy changes in Shanghai. Having an official English version eliminates misunderstandings that could arise from in-house translations,” Yu noted.
The portal’s “Do Business” section now features 60 service guides and 280 policy interpretations — covering industries, international trade, financial services and technological innovation.
Loads of practical and invaluable information is to be found on the International Services Shanghai Portal. [Photo/International Services Shanghai]
These resources are being actively disseminated across domestic and international social media platforms.
However, Shanghai is said to recognize that providing information alone is insufficient. To address the most pressing concerns of foreign enterprises, the municipal government plans to engage in direct dialogue on topics like “biopharmaceutical pilot production” and “coastal shipping expansion”.
Foreign executives have welcomed the efforts. “Such dialogues allow us to understand policy considerations and get immediate responses to our questions,” said Xia Guandong, senior advisor at Tishman Speyer.
Last year, a government-enterprise salon on cross-border data flows was so popular that seats were in hot demand, demonstrating the value of these exchanges.
Beyond business, Shanghai is also tackling daily life challenges for its expatriates. Matteo, an Italian employee of a European company, recently arrived in Shanghai and was very impressed by the convenience of services like mobile payment setups at the airport’s one-stop service station for international travelers.
However, he would like more English or even Italian versions of lifestyle apps. His wish will soon come true, as the International Services Shanghai Portal plans to add Italian, expanding its multilingual support to nine languages.
Matteo shared his positive experiences on social media, expressing his belief that companies would thrive in Shanghai and his intention to inform his European colleagues about what he had observed there.
All these efforts are widely viewed as underscoring Shanghai’s commitment to becoming a more inclusive and attractive global hub.
An international visitor seeks assistance at the information desk. [Photo/Shanghai Observer]
What’s more, this year Shanghai aims to refine its services further, addressing “micro-level” inconveniences in dining, deliveries, entertainment and shopping.
The city will also enhance the functionality of its airport service centers and update the “Guide to Shanghai for Expats” to include international healthcare, hotel stays and education.
The big push to improve Shanghai’s business environment also saw momentum at the International Business Leaders’ Advisory Council for the Mayor of Shanghai, or IBLAC.
Last year, Robert Maersk Uggla, the chairman of Maersk — the Danish global leader in transporting containers and one of the largest shipping companies in the world — expressed his excitement at the success of a pilot coastal shipping expansion, a proposal he had previously recommended.
He is hopeful that the company’s new flagship logistics center in Shanghai’s Lin-gang Special Area will offer more services for smart logistics and cross-border e-commerce.
Michael Wong, managing partner and head of human resources for Ernst & Young Asia-Pacific Area described the situation as a mutually beneficial journey.
He noted that by adopting the suggestions of foreign enterprises to improve the business environment, Shanghai had boosted their confidence, encouraging greater support for the city.
According to statistics, member companies of the IBLAC, plan to launch over 10 new investment projects in Shanghai, totaling nearly 30 billion yuan ($4.12 billion).
These companies will also seek overseas financing, attracting more financial institutions and wealth funds to Shanghai.
This year, Roche Group will explore localizing its supply chain and continue to increase its investment in China.
Elsewhere, Swire Group will focus on its real estate and healthcare sectors, with its subsidiary Cathay Pacific supporting the “Shanghai Summer” international consumption season.
Source: Shanghai Observer
,https://english.shanghai.gov.cn/en-Latest-WhatsNew/20250214/0afc31c90ac54e319a07cc3410a83684.html