Lin-gang Special Area's first investment forum opened in the new area on Dec 8.

More than 400 representatives from the management committee of Lin-gang Special Area, companies, industrial parks, associations and financial institutes attended the forum, which was hosted by the Shanghai FTZ Fund in partnership with the China Business Network and the Lin-gang service center for investment promotion.

The forum discussed how to make use of the market to promote the inflow of high-end projects, capital and skilled workers.

Zhu Zhisong, secretary-general of Shanghai, said that Lin-gang Special Area has launched a total of 12 policies affecting finance, industries, skilled workers, housing and land use, and has been making efforts to attract investment, particularly in integrated circuits, artificial intelligence, biological medicine, aerospace, and cross-border finance.

"Next, the area will increase efforts to promote reform and innovation and further open itself up to the outside world," Zhu said. "The local government will implement competitive policies and institutions to facilitate trade liberalization," he continued.

Li Jun, deputy director of the Shanghai Municipal Financial Regulatory Bureau, said that the regulatory bureau is working with the management committee of Lin-gang Special Area and state financial regulators to figure out the best policies to support the financial development of the new area.

Li also said that the Shanghai Municipal Financial Regulatory Bureau will help companies in key industries such as integrated circuits, artificial intelligence, biological medicine and aerospace to become listed on the science and technology board of the Shanghai Stock Exchange.

According to Que Bo, general manager of the Shanghai Stock Exchange, Lin-gang could greatly benefit from the science and technology board.

Que said that 181 companies in Lin-gang had applied to be listed on the board as of Dec 6, 102 had passed the approval, and 61 companies had gone public with their market value totaling 720 billion yuan ($102.33 billion).

Entrepreneurs from leading companies in the development of integrated circuits, artificial intelligence, biological medicine, international trade and cross-border supply chains delivered reports on industrial development in Lin-gang.