According to the city government's newly published guide on the development of industries from 2001-2005, the east China metropolis will give top priority to developing six pillar industries.

These favored few are electronics and information, automobile manufacturing, power station and large electrical and mechanical equipment, petrochemical and fine chemical production, and biomedical industries.

In addition, Shanghai will also encourage the development of the software and cosmetics industries.

Industries related to metallurgical production, textiles, electrically-powered machinery and some apparatus are listed in the "restricted class", since they are regarded as energy- consuming, mildly polluting, and low tech and low value-added.

According to the industrial guide, Shanghai will develop metropolitan industries in the urban area within the inner ring; metropolitan industries and hi-tech industries in the area between the inner ring and the outer ring; and large industrial equipment and basic materials industries in other parts of the city.

Shanghai will place the information industry mainly in its eastern part; the automobile industry in the west, the chemical industry in the south, and the fine steel industry in the north.

Meanwhile, the city will accelerate the development of 13 industrial zones including the Pudong New District, the Shanghai Chemical Industry Zone, and the Puhejing New Industries Zone.

(Xinhua News Agency July 23, 2002)