Kunshan Economic & Technological Development Zone (KETD)

Kunshan

Kunshan is a vibrant county-level city under the municipality of Suzhou located at the heart of China’s most economically prosperous Yangtze River Delta region between metropolis Shanghai and Suzhou. Covering an area of 931 km², Kunshan has a total population of 2.55 million. In 2019, Kunshan's GDP reached 404.5 billion RMB, which is the first county-level city in China with GDP exceeding 400 billion RMB.

KETD

Kunshan Economic and Technological Development Zone (KETD) is located in the east of Kunshan. KETD was established as a self-funded industrial development zone in 1984, and was approved by the State Council as a state-level economic and technological development zone (ETDZ) in 1992.

Economic Development

In 2019, KETD achieved GDP of RMB 187 billion.

Occupying 1/9 of Kunshan’s land area, KETD generates 50% of Kunshan’s GDP and more than 50% of the local industrial output. It contributes to 60% of the city’s overall foreign investment, 80% of the total import and export value in Kunshan.

By the end of 2019, KETD has introduced 2510 projects from 51 other countries and regions, including investment made by 30 Fortune 500 companies.

KETD has formed 5 pillar industries. It has become a destination for global capital, technology and talents from the world, a hub of cross-strait industrial cooperation, and an important center for foreign trade processing and import and export.

Optoelectronics & Semiconductors

A complete supply chain from raw materials and displays to modules and assemblies in the optoelectronics industry is taking shape in KETD. It is currently home to the Kunshan Optoelectronics Industrial Park, the only one of its kind in China where three display technologies - TFT-LCD, LTPS and AMOLED - are under development and ready for industrial scale-up in one place.

KETD now hold enterprises such as AUO, AGC, Lumens, Visionox, Henghao Technology, General Luminaire.

Electronic Information

Over 1000 enterprises engaged in electronic information have set up operations in KETD, including a number of industry giants as HP, Dell, Pegatron, Compal Electronics, and Wistron.

KETD has generated a vertically integrated production chain from electronic materials to components and system units, and finally electronic machines.     

Intelligent Equipment

In terms of machines, KETD hosts enterprises including HUAHENG Welding, Messer Cutting Systems, BBS Automation, Mann+Hummel, Multimatic Motorsports, and Snap-on.

In the robot manufacturing sector, more than 50 business entities have settled down in the zone, including the HRG Robot Industrial Park. Established in 2015 based on a project of Harbin Institute of Technology Robot Group in Kunshan, the park is envisioned to bring in about 30 R&D teams and incubate over 50 companies in five years.

New Energy Vehicle

KETD is home to a complete automobile industry chain well served by a comprehensive set of supporting businesses, demonstrating the powerful effects of industry aggregation.

As of now, Kunshan hosts over 600 automobile or auto parts manufacturers. And the industry chain was further expanded when Baoneng NEV and WM Motor joined the entities operating in KETD.

High-end Food

KETD aims to become an integrated cluster of businesses specializing in the development, manufacturing, sales and display of high-end food products.

So far, KETD has formed a high-end coffee industrial cluster led by Starbucks, and strives to form a new 100 billion-level coffee industry chain through three to five years' efforts. Right now, we have successfully introduced projects including Starbucks Industrial Park, Yizheng Food, Nissei Ice Cream, Daiffy Chocolate, and Uni-President Food.

Investment Service

”1-3-30” approval pattern - 1 working day required for business incorporation, 3 working days for real estate registration, and 30 working days for approval of construction permit for industrial projects.

“Internet + Government Service” model is based on a fully operating network for processing all the investment and construction related applications.

Education

There are 75 Kindergartens, 43 Primary Schools, 27 Secondary Schools,7 Vocational Colleges, and 3 Vocational Secondary Schools in Kunshan.

Kunshan also has 3 international schools, including Canadian International School Kunshan, Kang Chiao International School, Kunshan International School.

Shanghai Hua’er Kunshan School - introduces excellent teaching power from Shanghai , aiming to provide high quality education to students in Kunshan.

Kunshan Duke University - co-funded by Duke University, Kunshan Municipal Government and Wuhan University. It is a world-class university offering a range of academic programs for undergraduate and graduate students all over the world.

Cost

Living in Kunshan can benefit from medical and educational resources in surrounding cities such as Shanghai and Suzhou, while enjoying relatively low living costs. The average housing price in Kunshan is as low as one fourth of that in Shanghai, and half of that in Suzhou.

The minimum monthly wage standard was RMB 2020 lower than that in Shanghai.

Sports facilities

KETD aims to create a “15-minute sports life cycle” and provide comprehensive sports facilities to local residents.

Kunshan will host the 2023 Asian Cup and the stadium of the event is located in KETD. After finishing construction, the stadium will be the only international football field in Jiangsu Province that meets the requirements of FIFA.