Jiading fair gears the city up for hi-tech

Jiading, an automobile manufacturing hub in Shanghai, unveiled a four-day technology fair on Thursday as part of its strategy to turn itself into a hi-tech industry base.

Jiading's auto industry generated output value of 163.3 billion yuan ($26.3 billion) in 2012.

"But we can't allow ourselves to be complacent, we must develop hi-tech industries to bolster the local economy," said Gao Yun, head of Jiading district government.

Jiading has injected 1.2 billion yuan ($193 million) into starting up hi-tech firms in the hope they will flourish into major companies, Gao said.

The fair will discuss e-commerce, smart cities and micro technology

"These topics coincide with the district's six new industries, including new energy vehicles, new materials, Internet of Things, basic software and information," he said.

Jiading now has 395 hi-tech enterprises, 9.2 percent of Shanghai's total, laying a solid foundation for the district to become a hi-tech industry base in the city's northwest, experts said.

E-commerce firms such as JD.com, Vancl and Alibaba have moved their headquarters, R&D and logistics centers into the district.

Jiading created sales of 30 billion yuan from B2C business last year, accounting for one-third of the city's total in this field, said Gao.

The city's Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park has set up a sub-park in Jiading, said Zhou Jinlin, a member of the standing committee of the district Party committee.