Research into the development strategy of Dongtan

Wang Rongfeng

President of SIIC
Board Chairman of
Shanghai Chongming Dongtan Investment & Development Co., Ltd.

It was clearly outlined in the Fifteenth Five-Year Plan for Shanghai City, to draw up an integral development strategy for Chongming Island, which included acceleration of infrastructure construction, improvement of the investment environment, and support for a trial development of Dongtan, focusing on protection of Chongming's ecological environment in order to prepare for later large-scale development. In accordance with requirements made by the Shanghai Government, Shanghai Industry Group Co., Ltd is actively promoting the trial development of Dongtan. One of the crucial parts of its activities is to carry out research on Dongtan's development strategy.

Crucial elements of Dongtan's development are that it is carried out comprehensively, with foresight, and the concept of advancement. Recent research focuses have been: promotion of the concept of development, and how to realize and shape development plans; and long-term goals for investment before completion of links between Shanghai, Chongming and Jiangsu, which will have an ongoing impact on the development project from the early stages.

Dongtan's natural and historical settings clearly determine that the research must consider environmental and ecological protection first and foremost. Ecological construction is an essential aim of Dongtan's development. Even though there are various discussions about the aims for Dongtan's development, ecological concerns must take priority, ensuring the development of a world-class ecological environment. With that in mind, Dongtan's development will be a process of ecological construction. Ecological concepts and technology must be forerunners in the development plans and the construction of municipal utilities, buildings and industrial projects must prioritize the ecological concerns. This means that all materials, technology and management used should meet international environment protection standards, working on the principle that the ecology, manufacturing and communities can function harmoniously.

The primary aim is to combine environmental protection, ecological recovery and the reasonable application of resources, with the local conditions in Dongtan, providing an investment project in the Shanghai Changjiang River Delta area that distinguishes itself from others by becoming a national model for district developments, which incorporate small town construction. World-class technical standards for ecological construction will be utilized, so that development does not sacrifice the ecological environment, and that conversely development is not hindered due to environmental concerns. A first-class ecological environment will be created and at the same time the local economy will enjoy accelerated development.

A second priority is to include Dongtan's development in Shanghai's 'Target 2010' drive. Proactively assisting Shanghai's Socioeconomic Development Strategy. To do this, the successes and advantages of other districts developments should be studied, such as Suzhou, Wuxi, Changzhou, Hangzhou, Jiaxing, etc in the Changjiang River Delta. Dongtan will eventually become a key Changjiang River Delta link between the North Jiangsu Plain and the Shandong Peninsula after construction of the Shanghai-Chongming-Suzhou passageway. These other developments provide experience for Chongming's 1000 square kilometer development.

In recent years, as well as planning research and infrastructure construction, Dongtan's development should also make significant research into how to raise Dongtan's investment value. For example, this involves the building of an attractive business environment, branding, and novelty manufacturing, which enhance the value of the area, and prepare for the invitation of investors after the completion of the Shanghai-Chongming-Suzhou passageway.

Although there is no pioneer for Dongtan's development, corresponding cases from home and abroad can be used as study cases. The models for basic development should be seriously considered in order to take advantage of development opportunities from exemplary successful district development experiences, and notable lessons and experiences should be taken from other district developments in Shanghai such as Pudong.

The key for successful development in Dongtan is whether the natural assets can be utilized effectively and whether the cost of land can be controlled. Therefore, the research on Dongtan's development strategy contains important elements such as the types of industries that should be encouraged, the formation of a reasonable local population, the creation of a low-cost community management model, and convenient and high quality local administration.

Moreover, attention should be paid to other concerns such as strategies for branding, marketing, the local workforce, local information, public relations and financing whilst determining the overall concept of development in Dongtan.

The research on Dongtan's development strategy will be a long-term active process. Ensuring that thorough and precise preparation leads to success. This work relies on the belief that creation, tenacity and action will help make the crucial steps towards the targets of Dongtan's development.