Dalian spreads wings in Japan

Dalian, China's information technology outsourcing hub, yesterday opened a software park in Tokyo, Japan, the first such facility set up by a Chinese city overseas.

Dalian is a major software outsourcing base for Japan due to its geographical proximity and skilled workforce. The park is expected to strengthen Dalian companies' ties with clients in Japan and help small companies in Dalian cut costs when expanding their presence in Japan, said Dalian Vice-Mayor Dai Yulin.

More than 20 Dalian companies have so far set up their offices in Japan. By mid-November, over 35 companies signed contracts to move into the park.

Dalian has been aiming to build itself into a Bangalore-like outsourcing hub for information technology. Over 800 companies and 70,000 people work in the IT outsourcing industry in Dalian. Software exports from the city are forecast to exceed $1 billion this year.

Dai revealed that Dalian would explore the possibility of having similar IT parks in other Western countries as the global financial crisis could create new opportunities for the city.

Dalian has the potential to become a global delivery destination and surpass cities like Beijing and Shanghai, said a survey conducted by market research firm IDC last year.

Source: China Daily