General Information

Approved by Chinese Central Government, Ningbo Free Trade Zone (NFTZ) was established on Nov. 19, 1992. In compliance with the common practice of free trade zones defined in " International Kyoto Treaty", NFTZ enjoys special policies of "exempt from tax, exempt from license, bonded tax" and has economic functions of international trade, import & export processing, bonded warehousing and etc. NFTZ is a special economic area operating in the way of "inside the boundary, outside the customs". In one word, it is so far the most opened area in China to the outside world with most preferential policies. With the current developed area of 2.3 Square kms, NFTZ is expecting its expansion in the near future. 10 years effort has built NFTZ into a hot spot for foreign investors in East China Great Shanghai Economic Region with completed infrastructure, prosperous economy, satisfied investors, and accumulated capital. Up to the end of 2001, there have been more than 3700 enterprises incorporated, invested from 35 countries and territories, with the total investment of USD2.52 billion.

Ningbo Free Trade Zone was approved by State Council on 19 Nov., 1992, vested with special policies of "Tax-free, Bonded tax and license-free". Its major function comprises export processing, foreign trade, bonded warehousing. So far, as the only Free Trade Zone in Zhejiang Province, Ningbo Free Trade Zone is among the regions with the highest level of openness in Mainland China.

Backed against the largest deep-water berth in Mainland China, Shanghai Ningbo Beilun Combo Port, adjacent to the "Golden Waterway", Yangtze River, supported by the economically developed Yangtze Delta Region, Ningbo Free Trade Zone boasts a highly favorable investment climate. Ningbo Free Trade Zone is within a stone's throw from Beilun Port and strategic alliance has demonstrated its momentum at the current stage. With a-half to 3-hour traffic circle stand 4 international airports and now direct customs-clearance vehicle system has linked Shanghai Pudong Airport with Ningbo Free Trade Zone. Through the green channel, logistics efficiency is greatly improved.

Ningbo Free Trade Zone has witnessed rapid development during the past decade. By the end of 2001, 0.48 billion RMB has been utilized for the purpose of infrastructure construction, with 1.98 million square meters developed, and basic utilities installed. Now, more than 3000 enterprises have set up their factories and offices in NFTZ, of which 500 enterprises are foreign funded with a total investment value hitting $1.61 billion, contractual foreign investment reaching $1.22 billion and factual investment amounting to $0.45 billion. In the year 2001 alone, NFTZ has realized its GDP ￥2.58 billion and import & export volume of $0.76 billion, of which $0.41 billion export-bounded. NFTZ has become the new economic growth point for Ningbo municipality with its special status as the main area for foreign investment absorption.

Aiming at the process of project-ratification, construction, and management, NFTZ has established economic service center, construction item service center, foreign investment service center and human resources service center with service agency system, 24-hour service system, time-limit service system in an effort to provide enterprises with whole-process, whole-perspective service on a toll-free basis.

In the past years, NFTZ is aiming at developing hi-tech industry and modern logistics, establishing electronics information park, semiconductor photoelectric park, international software park, overseas scholar pioneering park and modern logistics center. The above-mentioned parks have introduced some 80 hi-tech enterprises with total investment exceeding $0.9 billion.

Pursuant to international practice, aiming at creating world-class investment climate, NFTZ welcome enterprises at home and abroad to invest and pursue a brighter future.

Development Plan

Ningbo Free Trade Zone aims to promote the economy and trade in the Zone and boost the export-oriented economy of its surrounding area. Through a thorough and creative implementation of special policies granted by the State, the Zone follows the market mechanism and international practices in a wide spectrum of flexible cooperation with domestic and overseas customers. It is determined to build the Zone into a first class free trade zone that is geared to both the domestic and international market and that has the complete and efficient service facilities, a zone that serves as an important center of computer manufacturing and IC packaging and testing in Zhejiang, the largest production base of monocrystalline silicon and polycrystalline silicon in China and a distribution center for modern logistics of Zhejiang.

Investment Orientations

Ningbo Free Trade Zone encourages overseas businesses to invest in international trade, export-oriented processing, modern logistics and other related services in the Zone.

Key export-oriented industries to be promoted: IT, auto parts, precision equipment & machinery, biological engineering, fine chemicals and other high-tech or high value-added industries; light industry, textile, foodstuff, machinery and other traditional industries using advanced equipment and oriented toward export.

Key international trade operations to be promoted: processing from imported material, entrepot trade and import and export of general goods.

Key logistics facilities and operations to be developed in the Zone: logistics parks, independent logistics service, international transportation and shipping, storing and processing of bulk cargo, import & export warehousing and other related services.

ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE OF NINGBO FREE TRADE ZONE

Add.: Free Trade Zone Mansion, Ningbo, P.R.C.
Post Code：315800
Tel.：86-574-86884850, 86880139
Fax：86-574-86883518
E-mail：nftz@nftz.gov.cn
Website：http://www.nftz.com/

Backing policies

NFTZ locates in the middle of China's East Coastline. Adjacent to the Metropolitan,Shanghai, and the most developed Yangtze River Delta(East China Economic Zone), NFTZ is the strategic key area for development identified by the central government of China. Domestically, NFTZ is accessible to the most prosperous market of East China and Mid-China, including 9 Provinces and 1 city : Shandong,Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Anhui, Fujian, Henan, Hunan, Hubei and Shanghai. Overseas, NFTZ is accessible to the East Asia and the Pacific region.
Cities nearby

NFTZ is adjacent to Shanghai(the metropolitan city in China and Hangzhou(the world-renown TRIPist city).

Shanghai
--- the most prosperous international metropolitan in China;
---- famous international financial center, trade center, and shipping center;
---- a window for NFTZ enterprises to penetrate China market;

Hangzhou
--- world famous TRIPist city in the heaven, there is paradise, on the earth, there is Suzhou & Hangzhou
---- a good TRIPist resort for entrepreneurs in NFTZ;

Ningbo
---- an important seaport for Yangtze River Delta, an important part of Shanghai International Shipping Center; an international port city in the East Coastline; total area:9,365 km2; population:5.3 million
---- a strategic key area for opening up to the outside world; under the direct jurisdiction of the Central Government; enjoy the same right as that of a province in economic management and stipulating local laws
---- economic center, financial center and shipping center of east China;
---- a historic cultural city in China; the birthplace of Hemudu Culture dating back 7000years;famous for business and trade since the ancient time;over 300 thousand successful businessmen living in more than 60 countries and regions
---- famous TRIPist resorts(Putuoshan Mountain-the famous Buddha resort, Tiantong Temple, A Yuwang Temple, Xikou Scenic Spot, Dong Qian Lake Scenic Spot)

Transportation Port

NFTZ is Adjacent to Beilun Port, an important port to Shanghai International Shipping Center and enjoying the fame of East Rotterdam. It has 24 ten thousand tonnage berths and direct voyage to 519 ports in more than 100 countries and regions. In 1999 the handling capacity of goods amounted to 100 billion,containers 1 million TEU, ranking the second in China. The container wharf(north to NFTZ) with 3 million TEU of designed handling capacity is under construction.

--- the best container port for big tonnage containers (50,000-80,000tonnage);

--- the biggest port for loading and unloading ore in China(300,000tonnage);

--- the biggest crude oil port in China(250,000tonage);

--- the biggest liquid chemical port in China(50,000tonnage);

Highway
--- Westward, it takes 1.5 hours to reach Hangzhou and 3 hours to reach Shanghai by expressway;
--- Southward, there are expressway leading to Fujian and Guangdong;
--- Northward, it takes 1 hours to get to Shanghai through Ningbo -Shanghai Sea Bridge(under construction);
--- Southwestward, Ningbo -Jinhua Expressway connects Beijing -Kowloon railway.

Railway
--- Xiaoshan-Ningbo double railway has stretched to NFTZ wharf,and is incorporated into China railway net.

Airport
--- 5 international airports can be reached within 1 to 2.5 hours, including Lishe Airport, Xiaoshan Airport, Jianqiao Airport, Hongqiao Airport, and Pudong Airport; they have both national and international voyages and can provide the most convenient transportation services.
--- Concerning special characteristics of free trade zone, the Provincial and Municipal Government has established Green Path for goods delivered from overseas through Lishe airport and Xiaoshan Airport to NFTZ.

Backing Industries

Energy, raw material industry: power, steel, chemical and other heavy industries are quite developed, which can provide ample energy and raw material supply to light industry;

IT Industry
development base for semi-conduct material (mono-crystal silicon,chips)in China; R&D and processing base for mobile communication and family communication products; R&D and processing base for computer products and parts & components; processing base for other IT products and parts & components;

Automobile Industry
the production and R&D base for whole-car (German Volkswagen-Shanghai Santana, American GM-Shanghai Buick, Japan Nissan-Dongfeng Bluebird, American Ford-Jiangling Coach). The whole car R&D has driven the development of auto parts processing, and thus provides a nice upstream and downstream automobile industry.

Machinery Industry
developed plastic injection machinery, sewing machine, and parts processing.

Plastic Industry
with the fame of Plastic Kingdom, Ningbo is the area mostdeveloped in plastic injection and moulds processing.

Biotech-pharmacy
one of the important R&D and production bases of biotech- pharmacy industry.

other Industries
processing of textile and fashion.

Market

--- the most prosperous market and most complete market system in China

--- the highest GDP per capita;is the most populated; with the most potential market

Personnel

--- Has more than 100 famous higher institutes, among which Zhejiang University,one of the leading universities in China, has the largest number of students & faculty, the most complete subjects and research institutes;
--- Has more than 100,000 college graduates of all majors each year.
--- Has a large amount of skilled workers with high qualification, as the result of prosperous market economy and developed processing trade.