As the city's unprecedented development has hinged on high-tech industries, Minhang District, home to many top-notch enterprises, is aiming to be Shanghai's technological heart.
Last year, the district lured an additional 29 high-tech firms and its total output from the 131 technological enterprises it houses was expected to reach 20 billion yuan (US$2.41 billion).
As official figures have not yet been revealed, the district government declined to tell the year-on-year change.
But it has confirmed that there must be growth in the output when compared with that of 2003.
"The abundance of highly-educated people and qualified employees have made the district attractive to high-tech companies," said Sun Yaohui, a district official.
To help the flourishing enterprises the district has a group of economists analyzing local firms' operations through their sales and taxations and to offer suggestions.
In addition, the district has set up a human resources center which provides qualified candidates with suitable training.
With a sufficient supply of qualified workers, high-tech firms have strived to launch their research and development centers and regional headquarters in the district.
So far, the district has accommodated many leading tech companies, including DBTEL Inc, the Taiwan-based manufacturer of telecom products, SVA Group, the Shanghai-based information electronic manufacturer, and China United Telecommunications Corporation, the national telecom giant.
Technological innovation has also played a big role in the district.
Last year, the district applied for 3,717 patents for its inventions. The figure ranked top among the city's 18 districts and one county. At the same time, patented inventions grew four-fold from a year earlier.
The technological innovations of the respective companies have not only helped the firms to profit but also that of the whole district whose fiscal revenue hit 11.75 billion yuan last year, a 41.2 percent growth year on year.
"We need enterprises who can keep the district at the technological forefront," Sun said.
"The labor-intensive industries which consume a large amount of land and with little technology are not welcome to the district in principle."
As the central government has carried out strict control on land use for industrial purposes since the first half of last year, local district governments have become more sensitive to providing land, industrial zone insiders said.
Minhang has a flexible rule that is different from many districts who kick out less competitive businesses after assessing their output for each square meter of land.
"We only judge if they are qualified from whether they are avant-couriers (a pioneer industry) in the high-tech industries," Sun said. "There are no other stiff rules."
The district also has a transport edge in that it neighbors Hongqiao International Airport and is covered with intensive traffic networks, including Metro Line One and elevated roads.

(Source: www.sh.gov.cn )