The signing ceremony of the Worldwide Ninghai People Investment & Cooperation Conference takes place in Ninghai county, Ningbo, on Sept 22. [Photo/ zj.zjol.com]

Ninghai county in Zhejiang's Ningbo city invited over 500 successful countrymen from home and abroad to its first Worldwide Ninghai People Investment & Cooperation Conference on Sept 22, to seek development in some of its key industries.

The conference witnessed the signing of 23 projects worth 17.7 billion yuan ($2.58 billion) in various fields such as auto equipment, medical devices and energies. 

Among these projects, 11 are aimed at encouraging local entrepreneurs outside the province to come back, and the other 12 are intended for attracting skilled personnel to the county. 

In addition, a ceremony was also held at the conference for authorizing special centers established by the local government in the United States, Germany, Canada, Hong Kong, New Zealand and Singapore for contacting overseas Chinese talents. 

Ninghai county has strived to introduce talents and startups in recent years, offering rewards of one to eight million yuan to outstanding individuals and companies working or running businesses in the county.