Ningbo Economic and Technological development Zone (NETD) was founded with approval of the State Council in October 1984, covering 29.6 square kilometers. It is one of the largest and earliest state-level development zones in China. Over 20 kilometers from the downtown Ningbo, the NETD is located alongside Beilun Port, one of China's top four natural deep-water ports. After years of growth, now the NETD has become the strategic focus of reform and opening-up for Zhejiang Province and Ningbo City, a key source of energy and raw-materials in East China and an important exported-oriented processing area in Zhejiang Province.
Behind Beilun Port, The NETD has over 100 square kilometers of flat hinterland. Of all the harbors in China, only Beilun Port has the comprehensive ability to handle the diverse cargoes of iron ore, bulk commodities, coal, liquid chemical, crude oil and containers. Now it has opened lines to over 500 ports in more than 80 nations and regions, including regular liners to Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, the United States and Europe, and irregular liners to Singapore and Australia. In 2001, Beilun Port handled 126 million tons of cargoes (1 million TEU containers), ranking second place in Mainland China.
The Administrative Committee of the NETD, on behalf of Ningbo Municipal Government, can approve a project less than US$ 30 million. It adopts the management mode of "small government with sound function". The NETD people have always give priority to the investors' interests, providing streamlined service in the whole process starting from the consultation, negotiation, and approval to the production of the project. The comprehensive service center, "quick-handling office" and economic environment supervision center have been set up to cater to the needs of the foreign investors. In the zone there are banks, customs, commodity inspection, foreign currency exchange and foreign agencies. All investors can run business in line with the international practice.
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