Vital Statistics (2006)
GDP: RMB248.25 billion
GDP per Capita: RMB 35,282
Economic Growth Rate: 16.5%
Population: 5.0 million (urban) – 2.04 million (rural)
FDI: US$3.03 billion
Annual Average Wage: RMB19, 812
Government Effectiveness Rating: 80th
2006 Chinese Cities Competitive Rating: 25th

Economic Overview
Shenyang, the capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, has recently emerged as a popular destination for overseas investors. After the Central Government's decision to revitalize the traditional industrial bases in northeast China, overseas investment capital has begun flowing into Shenyang, the hub of the region, offering both the city and its new investors, rapid growth potential. Presently, 26 large-scale foreign-funded ventures with investments of more than US$5 million each are operating in Shenyang. Experts say that the investment boom can be mainly attributed to the city's well-established industrial base and the favorable investment environment that the city government has created.

As a traditional industrial city, Shenyang has long enjoyed a reputation of being an ideal destination for industrial operations. Renowned multinational manufacturers, such as US-based General Electric and German-based Bayerische Motoren Werhe AG, seem to agree with this notion, having set up operations in the city, attracted also by newly implemented favorable investment policies released by the municipal government, including investment subsidies and commercial/industrial leasing cost relief programs.

With a favorable natural and commercial environment, in combination with consistency of investment policies, Shenyang has built up its brand as one of the best Chinese cities for foreign investment. A burgeoning consultancy and intermediary services network has emerged in Shenyang and these firms have been successful in selling the city and its advantages to so far more than sixty overseas firms, who have signed and entered into co-operative agreements with authorities of the city's districts, counties and development zones.

Shenyang's GDP climbed to an all-time high of 248.25 billion RMB in 2006, an increase of 12.3% over the previous year and ranking 18th among all cities on the Chinese mainland, while fixed capital investment has now reached 179.03 billion RMB.



Economic Contribution Ratios by Sector
In 2006, the economic contribution ratio to GDP of the primary industries including agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry and the fisheries was 5.5%; the contribution ratio of the secondary and value added industries was 45.8% and that of the tertiary industries was 48.7%.

Foreign Trade Overview
In 2006, the total amount of import and export trade was US$5.29 billion, with import volume of US$2.63 billion and export volume of US$2.66 billion. Shenyang's major export markets are the US, the EU, South Korea and North Korea. The main export products include automobiles, spare parts, electronic components, machine tools, floorboards, and computer application software.

Foreign Trade and Cultural Ties
The trade fair and conference industry in the city is quite robust, with hundreds of exhibitions held in Shenyang every year. The city has already established trade relationships with over 180 countries and regions in the world and its products are also for sale all over the world. While overseas investors flock to Shenyang, local companies are seeking to explore opportunities abroad. Local companies have begun to venture into the United States, Britain and Germany, while continuing to pay close attention to Russia and other neighboring countries, their traditional investment market. Private companies are the main force of the move abroad, accounting for 70 per cent of the city's total.

Shenyang holds the China International Equipment Manufacturing Exposition (CIEME) annually in the fall. The focal point of the exposition is to promote the revitalization of the northeastern traditional industrial base. The exposition provides space for enterprises at home and abroad to display their strengths and seek cooperation. Powerhouses in the international equipment manufacturing industry come to display their products, trade and order goods, discuss academic issues, negotiate investments and cooperate on technology.

Shenyang held the International Horticulture Expo in 2006. The total area of the Expo Garden was 246 hectares; a new Expo record. The Expo focused on four major sections including horticultural displays, leisure entertainment, comprehensive services and interactive activities.

By the end of 2006, Shenyang had twinned with 15 sister cities in 13 countries from around the globe.

Sister Cities of Shenyang
 

No.	City	Country	Date
01	Sapporo	Japan	November 18,1980
02	Kawasaki	Japan	August 18, 1981
03	Torino	Italy	February 12, 1985
04	Chicago	US	September 5, 1985
05	Dusseldorf	Germany	September 22, 1985
06	Irkutsk	Russia	August 12, 1992
07	Quezon	Philippines	May 7, 1993
08	Monterrey	Mexico	October 5, 1993
09	Ramat Gan	Israel	November 21, 1993
10	Songnam	ROK	August 31, 1998
11	Yaounde	Cameroon	December 7, 1998
12	Thessaloniki,	Greece	May 22, 2000
13	Ostrava	Czech Republic	August 30, 2006
14	Zlin	Czech Republic	May 14,2007
15	Katowice	Poland	June 6, 2007

Warning：The use of any news and articles published on eChinacities.com without written permission from eChinacities.com constitutes copyright infringement, and legal action can be taken.