The Yangtze River Delta region is the economic cornerstone of mainland China, making up 24 pct. of the country’s total industrial output and receiving 49 pct. of China’s foreign direct investment inflow. The region has a well developed infrastructure with five major airports, extensive expressways and railroad systems and some of the largest cargo ports in China and the world.

Shanghai has become one of the largest economic centres in China and kept its economy on the track of stable and relatively fast growth in 2008 despite the severe economic environment. Its GDP went up 9.7 per cent over the previous year in terms of comparable prices. The city has constantly transformed its growth mode and upgraded its economic structure. Some of the main indexes of Shanghai’s five-year development plan for 2006-2010, are:

To maintain an average annual GDP growth rate at above 9 per cent and the spending on R&D projects at above 2.8 per cent of GDP
To lead the country in building an administrative environment that is more dynamic, more open and more in line with the international practices.

The city has witnessed fast expansion in its foreign trade. In 2008, foreign businesses added US$10,759 billion worth of investment, accounting for 62.9% of all the contracted funds in the city. By the end of the year, the city had projects funded by businesses from 138 countries and regions, as well as attracted 224 regional headquarters of multinational companies, 178 investment firms and 274 overseas-funded research and development centres.

The province of Zhejiang enjoys a favourable investment environment. Attaching great importance to foreign-related administration and services, it has timely revised and improved foreign-oriented economic regulations and policies for accelerating its conformity with the WTO rules. In addition, it has introduced regulations for improving investment environment and favourable measures for promoting direct foreign investment.

Ningbo is one of the major commercial centres in the Greater Shanghai Area, and is directly linked to all the major ports of Asia, Europe and the US. The Ningbo-Zhoushan deepwater port is one of the 10 largest cargo ports in the world and the city of Ningbo is linked to Shanghai via the 33 km long Hangzhou Bay Bridge; the longest trans-oceanic bridge in the world, allowing travelling to Shanghai in less than two hours.

Jiangsu province is one of the richest and most developed provinces in China and ranks second in GDP, only exceeded by Guangdong. The southern Jiangsu area; Suzhou, Wuxi, Changzhou, Nanjing and Zhenjiang, forms part of the Yangtze River Delta economic region and is the province’s economic hub.

Jiangsu’s industries have become more externally-oriented in recent years. Foreign investments in Jiangsu are mainly engaged in the manufacturing sector, particularly in telecommunication equipments, computer, machinery, chemical products and textiles. Jiangsu has a strong private sector. By the end of 2008, there were about 722 thousand private enterprises, increased by 153% since 2002. Suzhou and Wuxi are the largest economies in Jiangsu province, while Nanjing is known as the intellectual centre of southern China.

Suzhou is the largest export base of Jiangsu and the percentage share has continued to increase in recent years, partly reflecting the healthy industrial development and rising external orientation of Suzhou. Foreign investment and international trade are playing an important role in Suzhou's economy. Currently, there are over ten thousand foreign enterprises operating in Suzhou. Among the world's top 500 multinational companies, 113 of them already have presence in Suzhou, and more than 30 have set up R&D centres in Suzhou.