Chengdu park powers up tech firms

Chengdu's Tianfu Software Park has announced favorable policies and service to start-up high-tech companies, telling a group of journalists from major Asian media organizations that the park is ready for success.

Tianfu Software Park has a business incubator, which focuses on the mobile Internet and helping start-up companies get funding for their innovations, according to He Lei, general manager of the park, who spoke to the group on Sep 17.

"At present, we have offered services to more than 130 start-up companies at the park, and many of them have successfully been incubated," said He.

The park also offers a free office for start-up companies for one year and helps start-up companies get investment and expand future business, said spokesman Thomas Tang.

The journalists were excited to learn about the park's Pinguo Technology Co, which is a shining example of a rags-to-riches story.

The company started off with only four employees, but now it employs 130 people. Its Camera360, a mobile phone photography app, has more than 250 million users worldwide in 223 countries and regions after four years of development, thanks to the park's support, according to the company,.

Foreign reporters were impressed by the government's support to start-up business and the park's achievements.

"It's hard for high-tech companies to get government support elsewhere around the world," said Pranaya Rana, a reporter with the Kathmandu Post based in Vietnam.

"The park's operation is quite like the US Silicon Valley at the beginning. For example, it has a nice coffee shop for people to take a break and exchange ideas," Rana said.

"I'd heard a lot about Chengdu's booming high-tech industry," said Colin Simpson, a senior copy editor with China Daily.

Simpson was surprised to hear that national and international tech giants have set up shop, half of all iPads are assembled there, and one in three computers sold worldwide contain processors made in the city.

"It was fascinating to visit Tianfu Software Park and see for myself Chengdu's commitment to this sector," said Simpson.

"It was great to see the way some bright young guys had been given the backing they needed to succeed."

The software industry has enjoyed great development in Chengdu.

As China's biggest specialized software park, the city's Tianfu Software Park has attracted more than 400 famous companies, including 33 Fortune 500 companies, such as IBM, Philips, Siemens and Huawei since its official opening.

At present, the park has formed well-developed industrial clusters featuring software outsourcing services, software R&D, communication technology and digital entertainment, according to the park's management committee.