Shanghai remains an ideal business destination for global investors due to its long-term commitment to fostering growth potential and embracing new opportunities. The city has continued to strengthen its innovation capacity.

According to Yang Guang, vice-president and general manager of Johnson Controls China, the company, which is dedicated to providing efficient energy solutions and systems to manage intelligent buildings, is confident about Shanghai's future despite the city's slowdown in the first half of this year because of the COVID-19 lockdown.

"I learned about Shanghai's ample growth potential from the height and construction speed of new buildings," Yang said. "I also learned about the city's diversity and resilience from the design and age of its buildings. Both skyscrapers and Shikumen-style old houses record and witness the inclusiveness of Haipai culture, or Shanghai-style culture."

The city, known for its most advanced technologies and new concepts, promised to achieve carbon peak emissions by 2025. Yang said this goal not only shows the city's resolve to support China's green development goals but also shows Shanghai's confidence in achieving high-quality development.

According to Yang, Shanghai is recovering from the recent COVID-19 outbreak with regular prevention and control measures such as venue codes and regular nucleic tests. The reopening of businesses including exhibition venues is further bringing about confidence.

"The 2022 World Artificial Intelligence Conference and the fifth China International Import Expo will be held in the city soon, both signaling recovery of the city known for its innovation and internationalization," Yang said.

Johnson Controls, which has participated in the annual CIIE since it began, will attend the 2022 edition to serve China's goals to peak carbon emissions by 2030 and reach carbon neutrality by 2060.

"The Asia-Pacific region, especially the Chinese market, has become one of the most important markets for Johnson Controls," Yang said.

Johnson Controls opened its headquarters for its Asia-Pacific region in the Changning district of Shanghai in 2017. The building received several top global energy efficiency awards. These include an Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies certification from the IFC-World Bank Group; Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Platinum certification from the Green Building Council; and the China Green Building Design Label three-star certification.

So far, the group has about 8,500 employees, 11 manufacturing facilities, two research and development centers, 40 regional offices and more than 100 sales representative offices in China.

Embracing opportunities

Shanghai's continuous efforts to support the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta region have been of great importance to global enterprises in recent years.

"Under the two keys of integration and high-quality, the Yangtze River Delta region has become one of the regions with the most active economic development, the highest degree of openness and the strongest innovation capacity in China," said Tomoo Moriya, president and CEO of international logistics service provider Yusen Logistics China.

"Yusen Logistics has gained rich customer resources and business cooperation in the Yangtze River Delta region," he added.

According to Moriya, the certainty of the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta region alleviated concern during the pandemic period, allowing Yusen Logistics to recover more quickly.

Moriya said that Shanghai is an ideal investment destination for logistics service providers because of its "outstanding hardware facilities and industrial resources".

"Geographically, Waigaoqiao and Yangshan deepwater ports together rank Shanghai first in China's container throughput. In addition, Shanghai has two commercial airports－Hongqiao International Airport and Pudong International Airport－which have the highest tallies of cargo volume and passenger flow," Moriya said.

The improving business environment; well-developed and highly efficient traffic network; high-quality talent resources; and rapid development of communication and financial industries all contributed to the greater success of logistics companies, according to Moriya.

The company had faced a series of difficulties amid the pandemic, including blocked transportation routes, a shortage of transport vehicles and drivers, employees staying home and more pressure from customers.

"At present, all employees in Shanghai have returned to work, the office and warehouses have resumed operation. With the support from a series of policies of the Shanghai municipal government and the Huangpu district government, and the gradual recovery of the market, our business volume is steadily recovering," Moriya said.

Yusen Logistics established its East Asia regional headquarters in Shanghai in October last year to handle functions such as finance, sales and marketing services, staff recruitment and training.

The headquarters will provide funding and financial management, sales and marketing services, staff recruitment training and management, and other internal shared services to the group's companies in East Asia. This will also help to improve management capabilities, integrate group resources, explore markets and contribute to the sustainable development of enterprises and society, Moriya said.

"Shanghai is an inclusive and open metropolis with strong innovative capabilities. We are full of confidence in the future development of Shanghai," Moriya said. "We will actively respond to the government's calls and continue to create new values to provide effective connections for all walks of life."

Boosting development

With all aspects of life in Shanghai gradually recovering, the city has been developing measures and hosting events to support industrial innovation and development.

The 2022 World Artificial Intelligence Conference is to be held from Sept 1-3 at the Shanghai World Expo Center. As the first national event to be held in the city since the lockdown, it will feature two plenary sessions on scientific frontiers and industrial development, and more than 10 themed forums over three days to support Shanghai to build a world-class artificial intelligence development cluster.

The 2022 Pujiang Innovation Forum, which ran from Saturday to Tuesday, was a platform for global experts to exchange ideas on an array of issues centered on low-carbon and green development.

The third Shanghai Shopping Festival, also known as Double Five Shopping Festival, kicked off at the end of July. It is scheduled to run until September to support the recovery of the consumption industry. Shanghai plans to release 1 billion yuan ($144.5 million) of consumption coupons during the festival. The first batch of 200 million yuan was released on Friday.

Policies were also introduced to support the recovery of such sectors as logistics, finance and foreign trade.