Film stars to set sail on creek

By Zou Qi and Li Xinran  |   2008-6-18  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

THE Putuo District Government has launched entertainment and tourism promotions for Suzhou Creek with the aim of developing a local yachting industry, officials said yesterday.

The move comes as MGM (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer) confirmed plans to base its China headquarters in the district.

"Film stars could well be seen soon taking yachts along the scenic parts of Suzhou Creek and then entering MGM World along the 2010 Shanghai International Film Festival's red carpet," Yan Zhinong, director of the Putuo District Economic Commission, said yesterday.

MGM World, which is an entertainment complex featuring cinemas, high-tech amusement games, restaurants and shops, will be completed in the Changfeng commercial center by 2010.

More than 300 listed companies have set up their headquarters in Shanghai and the city is also home for the district headquarters of 83 multinational enterprises, 165 international investment banks as well as research and development centers for 244 overseas corporations. Putuo has become home for the Fosun Group, China and METRO Group China, among others.

The district plans to introduce more company headquarters, with a forum on the economy of headquarters to be held on July 12. Nearly 300 entrepreneurs from 200 domestic and foreign companies - including Fosun president Guo Guangchang, Alibaba Group founder Jack Ma, Vanke chairman Wang Shi and William Ding Lei from NetEase - are expected at the forum.

The district has five key areas allocated to develop modern commerce and industry. The environmentally-friendly commercial center in the Zhenru area is now under construction with the aim of creating a second downtown center for the city.

According to the plans, the commercial zone covering 6.21 square kilometers will be linked by an underground complex.

The "green" park will be the core of the commercial center and five green landscape areas will be built along major roads in Zhenru.

The Zhenru center will be completed within three Five-Year Plans (2007-2022), officials said.