On the afternoon of March 14, the “Invest Shanghai Global Roadshow” Overseas Partners Shanghai Gathering officially opened at the Shanghai Eastern Hub International Business Cooperation Zone. The event was held as part of the 2026 Shanghai Global Investment Promotion Conference and “Invest Shanghai” Activity Week.
The gathering was jointly hosted by the Shanghai Investment Promotion Service Center, Shanghai Pudong New Area Investment Promotion Service Center, and Shanghai Changning District Investment Promotion Office. Representatives from leading business associations and industry-leading enterprises from the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Italy returned to Shanghai for the occasion. More than 100 guests from government and business sectors came together to explore opportunities for industrial collaboration and future investment.
Among the attendees were Zhang Ying, Deputy Secretary-General of the Shanghai Municipal Government; Gary Hunt, Consul for Life Sciences and Healthcare at the British Consulate-General Shanghai; Pu Yapeng, Deputy Director of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization; Li Hui, Deputy District Mayor of Pudong New Area; and Zhao Yongzun, Deputy District Mayor of Changning District.
In her remarks, Zhang Ying noted that foreign investment has long been an important participant, contributor, and witness to Shanghai’s economic and social development. As Shanghai enters the opening year of the 15th Five-Year Plan, the city is at a critical stage of accelerating the development of new quality productive forces and building a modern industrial system. She emphasized that Shanghai will focus on industrial upgrading, optimized resource allocation, and enhanced services, while maintaining a more open posture to continuously expand foreign investment and work with global partners to create new opportunities for cooperation.
“Invest Shanghai Global Roadshow” is a flagship brand established by the city for overseas investment promotion. ThisShanghai gathering is a practical initiative that moves from “going global” for international promotion to “bringing partners in” for targeted matchmaking. Many members of the visiting delegation are “new friends” visiting Shanghai for the first time with no prior investment in the city. Their dedicated fact-finding mission to seek cooperation is a direct and tangible result of Shanghai’s global investment efforts. Pu Yapeng delivered a keynote presentation titled “Invest Shanghai,” offering an in-depth look at the city’s urban development, industrial ecosystem, and investment landscape. His presentation was specifically tailored to align Shanghai’s opportunities with the unique industrial strengths of the UK, Switzerland, and Italy.
At the event, Pudong New Area and Changning District officially launched strategic investment promotion partnerships with London & Partners, the Swiss – Chinese Chamber of Commerce (SCCC), and the Sino-Italian Innovation Center.
Gary Hunt, Consul, Life Sciences & Med Tech, Department for Business and Trade, British Consulate-General Shanghai; Vittoria Pesenti, Executive Director of the Swiss-Chinese Chamber of Commerce; and Simone Tani, Chairman of the Sino-Italian Innovation Center, delivered keynote speeches.
They spoke highly of Shanghai’s industrial development opportunities and expressed their expectation to leverage the industrial strengths of their respective countries to deepen practical cooperation with Shanghai-based enterprises and achieve mutually beneficial, win-win outcomes.
Following the session, local and international enterprises engaged in intensive matchmaking, reaching preliminary agreements across various sectors. Moving forward, Pudong New Area and Changning District will host further exchange and matchmaking sessions. These initiatives aim to establish tailored communication channels for companies from the UK, Switzerland, and Italy to connect with local Shanghai firms, ensuring that these cooperative intentions translate into concrete outcomes.
Representatives from the Industrial Investment Division of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization, the Shanghai Investment Promotion Service Center, the Pudong New Area Investment Promotion Service Center, and the Changning District Investment Promotion Office also attended the gathering.