Overseas returnees flock to shanghai

Shanghai remains the most sought after destination for Chinese returning from overseas with many of them venturing into businesses in the city that is viewed as offering better opportunities for entrepreneurs.

In the pursuit of a higher quality of life. This is the goal shared by Chen Huiling and her team. Fourteen years ago, she came to Shanghai from Germany and established her own company covering materials, decoration and interiors.

"I started the company with my husband with around ten employees, now the company has more than 300 on its staff. The city has provided us with many good opportunities to develop our own business," Chen Huiling, VP of Citiking Group Co., Ltd, said.

After living in Germany for decade, Chen says she returned to China with a stricter and more decisive mindset for business, which is also reflected in her company's products.

"We have benefited a lot from our previous experience abroad. Our advantage is to combine the essence of both east and west. We hope to introduce a more advanced and better lifestyle to the people here," Chen said.

Chen's company is not the only one to make good progress in the country's financial center…

Statistics from the Shanghai Association of Enterprises of Overseas Talents show that as of June last year some 4,500 companies have been established in the city by Chinese returnees, far more than any other Chinese cite.

"About 100,000 students studying abroad who have returned to China have chosen Shanghai to work or start their own business. Most of them are hi-tech related enterprises. The local government has set up many preferential policies for the returnees," Li Xinxin, General Secretary of Shanghai Association of Enterprises of Overseas Talents, said.

The city's latest attempt to attract more returning talent includes potentially setting up a free-trade zone that will give them yet another reason to set up a business in Shanghai.