BAOSHAN District government joined hands with the Internet Society of China to unveil the Shanghai Internet Industry Development Center last week.

This marks the latest effort by the Baoshan government to push forward the establishment of its "Internet industry innovative practice area." It also showcases Baoshan's determination to carry out the central government's Made in China 2025 Strategy as well as the "Internet Plus" scheme.

The 2015 China Internet Industry Summit also wrapped up last week. The event welcomed guests and officials from the Shanghai Development and Reform Commission, the Shanghai Commerce Commission, the Shanghai Science and Technology Commission, the Baoshan District government and Baoshan Iron & Steel Group. Representatives from tech companies such as IBM, JD.com, Didi Kuaidi, Ouyeel, Shanghai Fanuc Robot Co Ltd, Marsteel.com, MySteel, iSoftStone also attended.

Deputy director of the Internet Society of China Gao Xinmin delivered a keynote speech at the summit. Attendees discussed a wide variety of topics including the above mentioned strategies as well as China’s general start-up environment.

The summit also included a number of seminars on topics such as how the Internet is facilitating upgrading and restructuring at traditional industries, including iron and steel manufacturing, finance, logistics and agriculture.

Baoshan has actively responded to the State Council's call to encourage start-up companies and "maker clubs" to boost innovation across various industries as China's economy shifts away from investment-led growth to a model centered on consumption.

Baoshan officials have set a target to establish more than 10,000 Internet companies, with a combined output of 100 billion yuan (US$15.46 billion), by 2020.

Local authorities also hope to have at least 10 high-profile Internet industry start-ups in the district by the end of the decade.

The district government's working plan to spur the development of the Internet industry includes pushing forward the adoption of Internet technology with traditional enterprises.

"Baoshan District's emerging industries have achieved great improvements this year thanks to a favorable investment environment in the region," said Baoshan Party Secretary and governor Fang Shizhong, as he said during a speech at the summit.

"The number of newly registered companies in the district exceeded 16,000 this year, up 20 percent from a year ago. They have combined registration capital of more than 100 billion yuan, 53 percent more than last year's total," Fang said.

Signs of progress are already visible in Baoshan, which is now home to a number of online steel trading platforms like Shanghai Steel Trading Centre Co Ltd and Zhaogang.com. Together, their online trading volume has already surpassed the 100-billion yuan mark, Fang added.

The district government has also attracted a number of Internet technology and service providers in the area and they are growing rapidly. Fang pointed out that the key objective of the Shanghai Internet Industry Development Center is to promote industry upgrading and encourage the start-up community. The center also seeks to play an active role in promoting training and consultancy services related to the Internet industry.

"Baoshan will continue to build itself into a strategic area with the Internet industry acting as strong growth engine," governor Fang explained.

Meanwhile, Baoshan has also entered into strategic cooperation with Costa Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean International and China State Shipbuilding Corporation to further develop the cruise industry in the area. By the end of November, cruise ships had berthed at the Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal more than 280 times, bringing with them some 1.6 million outbound and inbound travelers, up 31 percent and 44 percent respectively from the same period last year. These figures make Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal the largest cruise ship port in Asia, Fang said.