Songjiang is also encouraging its own companies to go global and move into the German market.

Of the six projects to receive approval from the Shanghai government to invest in Germany in the first quarter of 2017, two were from Songjiang-based companies.

The two projects are also the largest of the six to get the green light, accounting for 57 percent of the total investment, according to Shanghai’s commission of commerce.

The two projects will see local 3-D printer manufacturer Shanghai Union Technology Co and packaging company Shanghai Haishun New Pharmaceutical Packaging Co open new branches in Germany to deal with European sales of the companies’ products.

The German delegation also visited Songjiang's G60 Science and Technology Innovation Valley, a large business complex designed to foster clusters of innovative companies in fields such as advanced materials, robotics, information technology and software design.

The G60 complex will serve as a vital cooperation platform that will support the implementation of Germany's "Industrial 4.0" stragegy, according to the Songjiang Party chief Cheng Xiangmin.

The German delegation visits Songjiang's G60 Science and Technology Innovation Valley, a large business complex designed to foster clusters of innovative companies in fields such as advanced materials, robotics, information technology and software design. [Photo provided to sh-italent.com]