Innovation and entrepreneurship spread over Ulanqab

(chinadaily.com.cn)

Updated: 2016-09-27

The 2016 China Innovation and Entrepreneurship Exposition held in Ulanqab, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, aimed to inspire talented locals to start new businesses and boost the local economy, concluded on Sept 27.

From Sept 25 to 27, the expo hosted ten different exhibitions and five academic forums. The forums involved discussions on the development of new smart cities, the e-commerce industry, tourism, and innovative businesses.

Exhibitions were set up to showcase frontier technologies and achievements, including the Xinhua pavilion, Ulanqab pavilion, science and technology pavilion, interactive entertainment pavilion, tourism-themed pavilion, and so on.

Under a theme of “Interaction, Convergence, Innovation, and Upgrading”, the expo was sponsored by the Xinhua News Agency and Ulanqab government.

The three-day event attracted more than 100 enterprises and 60,000 visitors from across China, according to one of the organizers.

Governmental officials, renowned experts, leading enterprises, business investors, and excellent entrepreneurs assembled at the opening ceremony of the expo.

A host introduces participants of the opening ceremony during the 2016 China Innovation and Entrepreneurship Exposition held in Ulanqab, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, on Sept 25. [Photo/Xinhua]

Tian Shubin, president of Xinhua News Agency, said that with emerging products and services, enterprises should follow the trend of new science and technology, and focus on potential industries to meet people’s needs.

The government should simplify procedures, thus creating an open environment for enterprises and individuals to start businesses and practice innovative ideas, according to Ai Lihua, mayor of Ulanqab. She also mentioned the government should attach importance to the cultivation of youth talent, particular those pioneers in specific fields.

Silva Edvaldo, consul of the Embassy of the Republic of Chile in China, also gave a speech at the opening ceremony. He pointed out that China has committed to promote the innovation and entrepreneurship in recent years, and indeed has harvested great achievements.

Edvaldo went on to say collaborating with China has become an indispensible part of Chile’s progress into international markets, and Chile has provided a series of funds and policies to support entrepreneurs and investors from China and abroad to conduct commercial cooperation.

Visitors from all walks of life flock to the exhibition hall during the 2016 China Innovation and Entrepreneurship Exposition held in Ulanqab, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, on Sept 25. [Photo/Xinhua]

The expo provided a platform for intelligent exchange, business investment and cooperation, and was expected to be the origin point for new industries and technologies in China.

During the expo, numerous contracts, investments, and cooperation agreements were reached, including a project on promoting college innovation and an association for entrepreneurs to share ideas.

Ulanqab was chosen because it is a transportation hub, at the junction of the northern, northeastern and northwestern parts of China and is a key link to Mongolia, Russia, and Western Europe.

In recent years, the Ulanqab government has tried to help develop new emerging industries, especially those tied to the Internet and e-commerce, by providing policies and funds to support companies and individuals that contribute to local innovations.