Good news came during the spring of the Year of Ox. On the morning of February 2, a joint opening ceremony for major key projects in Suzhou that will start construction or operation was held in Kunshan's main venue.

The projects involved a total investment of 20.38 billion yuan and are concentrated in three key high-tech industrial parks, namely the China Kunshan Economic and Technical Development Zone, the Huaqiao International Service Business Park and the Kunshan New & Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone. The total investment of the 25 projects located in these three industrial parks accounts for 73 percent of the investment involved in all of the projects included in the joint opening ceremony. The construction and operation of these projects will further promote the rapid and sound development of Kunshan's economy.

Reporters learned that the 25 projects which were involved in the joint opening ceremony are all key industrial projects that enjoy the support of the Suzhou Government and are also key projects in the industry chains of leading and emerging industries. Of these projects, there are seven projects in the optoelectronic sector; these involve the second-phase Infovision Optoelectronics project as well as projects led by Uniohm Corporation, Sangnuopu Precision Optics Company, Lumitek Corporation, Kunshan Guoli Vacuum Electrical Appliance Company, Kunshan Xitai Microelectronics Technology Company and Kunshan Caihong Yingguang Electronics Company. There are five projects in the precision machinery sector; these involve the second-phase project of SANY Heavy Industry Company as well as projects led by Futaba Precision Die and Mold Machinery (China) Company, Outokumpu Stainless, Kunshan Tailai Xinda Machinery Company and Voith Paper City. There are five projects in the new energy sector, involving Tainergy Tech Company, KunShan Energy-saving and Environmental Protection Company, Xunlight (Kunshan) Company, Motech Industries Inc and Kunshan Huafeng Wind Power Technology Company. There are two projects in the IT sector, involving two brand-name PC producers, Haier and Hasee. Finally, there are six projects in the modern service sector; these involve Zhongcheng Lianhe Investment Company, Centrin Data Systems, Yuyuan International Trade Company, Tangram Information Technology, CITIC Industrial Park and Gazeley (Kunshan) Logistics Park. Construction and operation of these projects will promote the upgrade of leading industries, advance the formation of bases for emerging industries, and considerably enhance the competitiveness of Kunshan.

Xie Congyou, Chairman of Housheng Optoelectronic Technology Company in Kunshan, said that opportunities for development could be found amid the international financial crisis and that enterprises should further enhance investment to seek further development. At the beginning of this year, the company started construction of its new factory buildings in the Optoelectronic Industry Park of the Kunshan Development Zone. Motech (Suzhou) Renewable Energy Company's first-phase factory buildings and dorms were completely constructed at the end of 2008 and have since been put into operation. Complete mass production is expected to officially begin in the first half of the year. The company's production orders for the first half of the year have already been fully booked and its planned production capacity for 2009 is 130 megawatts, with expected sales of 300 million USD. Liao Zhenyong, the firm's general manager, said that the current global financial crisis has had an impact on the solar photovoltaic (PV) industry and that the entire operating environment has been affected to some extent. However, he noted that crisis can also bring opportunities and that the company is confident about the future of the PV market. At present, Uniroyal Electronics Industry Company is investing an additional 20 million USD, bringing its total investment to 69 million USD. The company believes that this will help them prepare fully for capacity expansion. Tangram Customer Interaction Center signed a letter of intent regarding cooperation with the Huaqiao Economic Development Zone in 2007. On April 2, construction of the Tangram Service Outsourcing Industry Park was officially started. After the project is completed, it will feature a 5,000-seat call center, the largest outsourced call center in China. Furthermore, it will gradually be extended to relevant industries such as software R&D outsourcing. At present, all preliminary work for the park's construction is ready. It is predicted that construction will be completed within a year and that the park will be put into operation next year. Bi Feng, General Manager of the Tangram Customer Interaction Center, said that Kunshan boasts a location advantage, a clear position in the industry and excellent government services. He believes that the cooperation between Tangram and the Huaqiao Economic Development Zone will be successful.

Source: Kunshan Daily Website

By reporter Cao Yong, intern Shi Wei