Dalian's Puwan New Area breaking from outdated concepts

By Zhang Xiaomin (China Daily) Updated: 2015-09-09 10:53

On March 26, the US tire manufacturer Goodyear set up its first research and development center in Puwan New Area in Dalian. (From left) Richard Kramer, chairman and CEO of Goodyear, Tang Jun, Party Chief of Dalian, Scott Weinhold, US Consul General in Shenyang and Xiao Shengfeng, Mayor of Dalian, attended the event. [Photo provided to China Daily]

"Innovations in administration and management is our core concept. How to bolster economic and social development is why we set up Jinpu New Area," said Jiang.

He said one of the central actions being undertaken by Puwan New Area is breaking from traditional concepts in administrative approval processes and operational mechanisms.

Puwan New Area has set up a system in which one official is responsible for making all decisions from the outset of a project until it is completed, which is very different from previous models in which several officials were in charge of different sections as the project proceeded.

At the beginning of the year, Puwan designated every one of its 66 projects, each with an investment of more than 100 million yuan, to a specific official. A total of 116 billion yuan in investments has been allotted to the projects.

Puwan New Area is also accelerating the establishment of a bureau that will be responsible for administrative examinations and approvals in an effort to streamline processes and serve enterprises more efficiently.

"We will continue to deepen reforms and create more vitality. We will make full use of preferential policies for rejuvenating Northeast China and national new areas and strive for more power in managing the local economy," Jiang said.

Since its establishment in April 2010, Puwan New Area has focused on large projects to group enterprises together, improve urban infrastructure and the ecological environment, create better living standards and boost growth in various economic indicators.

In 2014, Puwan New Area's GDP reached 71.24 billion yuan. It has total fixed asset investments of 72.68 billion yuan and a public budget revenue of 4.33 billion yuan. The area attracted 21.1 billion yuan from domestic investors and $605 million in foreign investments. The volume of imports and exports rose to $2.12 billion.

"After a few years of efforts, we have settled some problems that had caused chaos and unified all officials to better manage the new area, which is fundamental to our development," said Jiang.

One city, two sub-districts

Jiang said Puwan New Area's theme of "one city, two sub-districts" has created a platform to boost local development.

He said "one city" means the new city near the bay is focusing on services for enterprises and their employees. The city is a center for company headquarters, business and financial services as well as cultural and sports events. Thus far, Dalian Library, the Science and Technology Museum of Dalian and Dalian Museum have been completed while the No 3 Hospital affiliated to Dalian Medical University will be completed in the near future.

The two sub-districts are Sanshilipu Industrial Area and Songmudao Chemical Industrial Park. Jiang said fine chemicals in Songmudao and new-energy equipment manufacturing in Sanshilipu will prop up the transformation of old industries and cultivation of new industries in Puwan.