40YearsOn | NETDA witnesses Nantong's opening-up efforts

A bird's-eye view of NETDA. [Photo provided to en.nantong.gov.cn]

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the opening up of coastal port cities in China, including Nantong in Jiangsu province.

In 1984, Nantong was approved to become one of the first 14 coastal cities to open up to the world, which offered a solid policy basis for the establishment of the Nantong Economic and Technological Development Area (NETDA).

Two years later, the first productive Sino-foreign joint venture in the development area obtained its business license. With a total investment of $4.98 million, the joint venture specialized in the production and export of videotapes.

Since then, foreign investment in NETDA has been continuing to increase. Over the past four decades, the area has attracted over 1,000 foreign-invested enterprises with a combined investment surpassing $30 billion.

In 2023, thanks to the efforts of local authorities, NETDA saw 56 new projects signed into effect with a registered investment exceeding $30 million each, while construction commenced on 50 projects worth more than 100 million yuan ($13.78 million).

With the rapid development of the real economy in NETDA, much progress has been made on social undertakings involving education, culture, health, and sports, which has not only improved the wellbeing of local residents, but also injected vitality into local investment environment.

The natural environment in the development area has also continued to improve. Last year, its average concentration of PM 2.5 was 25.8 micrograms per cubic meter, the proportion of days with good air quality in the area reached 82.6 percent, and its river fracture surfaces under provincial and national examination reached Grade-III standards.

Moving forward, NETDA aims to become the most dynamic development area in the Yangtze River Delta.