Unique environment is major draw
dairongzhu@chinadaily.com.cn
The city of Wuxi in East China’s Jiangsu province is blessed with a natural environment that has attracted people for centuries to visit, settle and launch business – a fact that remains to this day.
According to senior officials attended a talent recruitment event held on Aug 26, a prelude to the forthcoming World Internet of Things Exposition (WIOT), “location” and “livability” seem to be the most important factors people consider when looking for a new job.
Located in the heart of the Yangtze River Delta, within easy reach of Shanghai, Nanjing and Hangzhou, Wuxi blends modern development with traditional culture, providing a top choice for talents to realize their ideas in innovation and entrepreneurship.
Home to many natural attractions, such as the national 5A-level scenic spot Turtle Head Isle, ancient towns and many parks and gardens, Wuxi is often described as the pearl of glittering Taihu Lake.
It is no wonder then that in 2009, the central government selected Wuxi to become the country’s sole national IoT demonstration base ----putting the city at the forefront of an industry that now influences our everyday lives more than ever before.
It has been recognized as the second most livable city in China, behind only Hong Kong, according to a report released by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and the Economic Daily on June 22.
Wuxi has risen up the rankings from the eighth place in 2015 due to its excellent performance in education, public health and economic growth.
As a result, more than 1.6 million professionals have relocated to the city, 110,000 of whom are high-level, and 215 from the Thousand Talents Program ---- a national recruitment initiative to attract global experts.
“We have improved our talent recruitment programs and would like to gather talents with best services and biggest support,” said Li Xiaomin, the Party secretary of Wuxi. He added that the government plans to offer subsidies of up to 100 million yuan ($15 million) to top professional teams.
Zhang Haitao, president of Tongfang Microelectronics, set up his company in Wuxi in 2014, and since then hasn’t looked back.
“Wuxi provides the best environment for us to live and start business,” Zhang said. “But it’s not just business. The education system, healthcare and transport are all top class.”
Guo Wenping, is another professional who has been attracted to the city. “I came to Wuxi to work for Jiangsu Xinguanglian Technology,” Guo said. “When I first arrived, the local government efficiently solved all my problems of housing, my children’s education and professional assessment.”
The government has worked hard to ensure that the city’s infrastructure and services are secondto-none, investing in a state-of-the art metro system that connects the majority of the city, and opening 37 kindergartens and 28 primary and middle schools last year alone.
The IoT plays a major role in making Wuxi a great place to live and do business. The technology permeates into all aspects of life in the city, whether it is via smart connected classrooms, monitoring your health, or keeping track of pollution and waste management in the city.
At the underground parking garage of Guomai Hotel in Liangxi district, electric car drivers can scan the QR code printed on intelligent charging poles to charge their cars. The charging poles can monitor the electric current in real time, cutting off the power automatically and informing the car owners in real time via WeChat if the car is overheated or other emergency happens.
Gao Yaguang, vice-mayor of Wuxi, said the IoT has changed the way we live our lives and how cities are run. “With the development of the IoT industry, we are exploring how to adjust the city’s industrial structure and also ensure sustainable development of the economy and society.”