Zhejiang Province will continue to woo foreign investors as the main strategy to boost its economy, according to a top official.

 

"Opening the market to foreign investors is the inevitable route for Zhejiang in its next round of development," said Wang Yongming, vice-governor of the province, at the International Forum of Cooperation held in Hangzhou on Tuesday.

 

"It will be a tremendous boost to the growth of hi-tech industries and multinational corporations," he added.

 

Zhejiang has raised US$1 billion in foreign investment in recent years, particularly through the mergers and acquisitions of Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group Inc, Harbin Pharmaceutical Co Ltd and Shenzhen Development Bank. Around 20 companies have listed overseas, including Shanda Entertainment, Baidu and Suntech Power.

 

"We will actively support cooperation between Zhejiang companies and foreign investors, and structure a reasonable and operable policy to ensure the orderly development of foreign investment," said Huang Yong, deputy director of the Zhejiang provincial development and reform commission.

 

Alibaba.com, the world's largest online B2B marketplace, headquartered in Hangzhou, received US$25 million in investment from Goldman Sachs and Softbank during its first stage of development.

 

Wei Zhe, executive vice-president of Alibaba, said companies should recognize the additional value brought by investors such as branding, management and technology.

 

(China Daily April 26, 2007)