Yangtze River Delta governments take a back seat, giving market forces free rein in developing infrastructure

Governments in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) have promised to give market forces free rein in building infrastructure and creating unified public service platforms as the mainland’s most affluent region seeks to develop in synergy under Beijing’s directions.

Authorities in Shanghai and the provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui – which together make up the YRD area – are inviting construction companies, institutional investors, research institutes and consultancies to play a dominant role in developing the so-called demonstration zone, essentially a pilot zone that forms a key part of the YRD integration initiative.

“We hope an alliance of the companies and institutions will take major responsibility in pushing ahead with the projects,” said Zhang Zhongwei, a deputy director of the demonstration zone’s executive committee. “Governments hope to relinquish their roles as investors and [builders]. After all, market forces will be the main driving force in implementing the integration of the region.”

Shanghai and the three neighbouring provinces are required to better connect with each other to create synergy as they adjust their industrial mixes, build highways, ports, railways and bridges, and allocate land resources to chase high-quality growth.