The Volvo Asia-Pacific Headquarters covers 200,000 square meters in Jiading district of Shanghai. [Photo/jiading.gov.cn]

Major economic indicators, such as total industrial output value, gross merchandise volume, and total retail sales, in Shanghai Jiading Industrial Zone have all witnessed growth last year despite the COVID-19 pandemic, local media reported on Jan 19.

Gao Xiang, head of Jiading district, said that Jiading will focus more on the high-quality development of the zone. Efforts will also be made to accelerate the pace of the integration of industry and city to push Jiading's deeper integration into the?Yangtze River Delta region.

Gao added that Jiading Industrial Zone plays a leading role in driving the district's economic and social growth. It is also a core area for Jiading's industrial transformation, as well as the district's scientific and technological innovation.

In recent years, the zone has been committed to high-quality development, fostering new drivers, as well as accelerating the industrial?transformation?and?upgrading?of its traditional industries. These unremitting efforts have further strengthened the zone's core competitiveness and its capabilities to innovate.

Statistics show that the gross revenue of its secondary and tertiary sectors climbed to 406.3 billion yuan (62.74 billion) in 2020, up 6 percent year-on-year. The gross industrial output value above designated size grew by 0.2 percent year-on-year, hitting 126.25 billion yuan.

In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic last year, enterprises in the zone explored new ways to make breakthroughs and overcome its impacts.

Shanghai United Imaging, a Jiading-based advanced medical product company, introduced its advanced computed tomography (CT) machine, which can be deployed in primary-level medical centers, disaster areas, and epidemic areas to greatly reduce?cross-infection?risks.

Boosted by?innovation-driven?development, Volvo Car China in the zone?set up an electrical?machinery laboratory, the first of its kind in Jiading. With the help of the laboratory, Volvo developed a leading new product for battery electric vehicles, helping its sales exceed 166,300 units for nine months in a row, the?highest sales record in the world's single market.

Local authorities said that in recent years, the zone transformed government functions and improved government services, making it an attractive investment spot for enterprises. Statistics show that more than 5,220 new enterprises entered the zone last year, a year-on-year increase of 65.4 percent.