The Anting export base has a shopping agenda that includes duty-free warehouses and a human resources center to attract talent.

The German automotive association, Verband der Automobilindustrie, has established a base there to facilitate car exports to Europe.

The other part of the Shanghai export base that could enjoy a serious boost is the car parts industry.

The car parts industry is growing in importance not only because of the way it has boosted China's car industry but also because of its rapid expansion.

For the first quarter of this year, the value of car part exports rose 24.84 percent to US$7.6 billion.

Most of the car parts were shipped to developed countries with the United States, Japan, South Korea and Germany in the lead, accounting for 55 percent of the total export.

China has more than 5,000 registered car parts manufacturers generating an estimated 6 to 8 trillion yuan.

Shanghai had planned to spend 50 billion yuan (US$7.28 billion) between 2001 and 2010 to build the AutoCity. Since its ground-breaking ceremony in 2001, 38 billion as been invested.

(Shanghai Daily June 27, 2008)