The “Ten Platforms” program, an initiative from the Federation of Industry and Commerce in Changning District, has become a powerful force among local entrepreneurs since its establishment in 2014. Let’s take a closer look at these platforms, as well as their results.

Changning branch of the Shanghai’s Private Enterprises Research Committee

Founded in January 2014, this organization focuses on exploring legal issues pertaining to private sector entities in the district.

They cooperated with the economic committee of the Shanghai Political Consultative Congress and the Shanghai Municipal Statistics Bureau on “improving the status quo of the district’s e-commerce businesses” and “analyzing the current development of private economy of the area.”

Legal Team and Advisory Body

To protect and serve private enterprises in the district, Changning’s Federation of Industry and Commerce, together with the district’s judicial bureau as well as other integrated administrative and judicial resources, make timely efforts to solve legal issues for private enterprises.

Relying on a professional team, it provides legal services to private enterprises by offering group training or one-to-one coaching.

The federation is an important platform through which lawyers can fulfill their social responsibilities. These legal advisors ensure that companies operate and protect themselves according to the law. They also enhance companies’ ability to cope with legal risks by helping them establish or improve their response mechanisms and by providing training and consulting services.

Chamber of Commerce serves Import and Export Companies

With nearly 90 members, the Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export Companies is affiliated to the Federation of Industry and Commerce of Changning District. It helps companies communicate with each another, share resources, deal with financial and legal problems, as well as to apply for APEC business visas.

Since its founding, the chamber has organized many policy interpretation meetings and provided private companies with lectures on topics such as the construction of the city’s free-trade zone and interest rate fluctuations.

The organization also invites Customs heads, as well as the China Export and Credit Insurance Corporation, to interpret ordinances issued by the General Office of the State Council.

When necessary, the chamber also introduces companies to banks, creating a “green path” for cooperation between member companies and financial institutes. For example, in 2015 it arranged 13 communication "salons" between banks, chambers of commerce and over 60 companies, helping the latter raise more than 80 million yuan (US$12.45 million).

Dining and Cooking Association

The Dining and Cooking Association mainly recruits middle and top-grade catering companies in the district. It currently has 42 members. The association publishes and interprets laws, regulations and policies for member companies.

Association members regularly hold management seminars, discuss the challenges confronting the catering industry and offer suggestions to relevant authorities. Heads of the municipal dining and cooking association, market supervisory authorities and the district’s commerce commission are regularly invited to activities to elaborate on updated policies.

Social Welfare System Supported by Private Enterprises

The federation uses numerous channels to arouse private enterprises’ sense of social responsibility and boost practitioners’ morale for taking on social responsibilities.

Every year, it sends gifts to special groups of elderly people, including rural Party members, former guerrillas and underground messengers.

The federation organizes activities in which private enterprises devote themselves to noble course and fulfill social responsibilities more deeply and widely.

It also instructs private companies on how to support the army and the government. For example, companies have already shared their legal and scientific knowledge, as well as job opportunities, with army camps. They also participate in educational activities, consolidating their bonds with the country’s soldiers.

Salon for Leaders and Coordinators

Despite the fact that they are busy, frequently on business trips and run large-scale companies, the president and the vice president of the federation take their responsibilities to the organization seriously.

They held a New Year forum for influential private entrepreneurs in early 2015, during which government leaders and entrepreneurs discussed their New Year’s resolution.

They insist on holding a presidential meeting every three months to exchange information and discuss key issues facing the federation.

They also communicate with each other when necessary through WeChat.

Photo Salon for Businessmen

The businessmen’s photo salon in Changning was founded in August, 2012. With Zheng Xianzhang, director of the Shanghai Photographers’ Association and chief photographer at Shanghai Pictorial, as its technical assistant, the salon regularly holds events like photography trips and photography workshops.

Works by the salon’s members were exhibited at the 12th Shanghai International Photography Exhibition during the 2014 Shanghai International Photography Festival.

Members of the salon also headed for Route 66 in the US and some regions in Canada to shoot pictures, during which they held business exchanges with local entrepreneurs and achieved good results.

Sorority for Female Entrepreneurs

The federation has built a sorority for female entrepreneurs into a platform where women serve as executive or standing committee members. They can gain information, communicate their feelings, improve themselves and seek business opportunities via this platform.

The sorority holds activities like its International Working Women’s Day gala, afternoon tea, financial salons, trips to the theater and war museum visits, offering female entrepreneurs a chance to share their personal philosophies and experience a healthy and modern lifestyle.

In May, 2015, the sorority invited Ying Jianzhong, from China Business News and a professional lawyer, to give a lecture to over 40 female entrepreneurs on how to seek business opportunities at a bull market. With its warm atmosphere and interactive factures, the lecture received unanimous praise.

A Social Club for Young Entrepreneurs

A social club for young entrepreneurs was established in June 2014. The club aims to discover and train the next generation of entrepreneurs.

The first batch of club members consists of 42 entrepreneurs. Some are managers of startups, others are from China’s “second generation” of entrepreneurs. Some come from new industries like IT, while some others engage in traditional industries.

Since its establishment, the club has held various activities like its back-to-school parent-child campaign, cafe salons, a parent-child golf event, cross-district visits, outward training and workshops.

Wang Yu, vice chairman of Spring Airlines, serves as the first president of the club.

Calligraphy and Painting Social Club for Entrepreneurs

The calligraphy and painting social club for entrepreneurs was founded in May, 2015. Located within the Little Master newspaper office on Anxi Road, the club serves as a platform where professionals interested in calligraphy and painting can meet, make friends and exchange ideas.