Shanghai Municipal Personnel Bureau officials said yesterday they plan to establish branch offices in the United States and Germany to recruit talented professionals and researchers from overseas.
The offices are expected to open before year's end, they said.
Targeted are Chinese nationals working overseas and naturalized citizens of the United States and Germany who were born in China. There may even be instances when non-Chinese are pursued, officials said.
"The strategic development of human resources is aimed at enhancing the city's economic growth and competitiveness, now that the country has entered the World Trade Organization," said bureau Director Sun Luyi at this year's Shanghai human resources working conference.
Sun said the city is particularly interested in overseas Chinese professionals working in information technology, finance and insurance, biopharmaceuticals and urban planning.
Last year, Shanghai recruited nearly 980 overseas 'talents' to work on government projects or start their own business.
That's a 75 percent increase from the previous year. These professionals have started 382 enterprises, an increase of 59 percent from 2000.
By having the two overseas offices, city representatives will have an easier time establishing links with American and European employment agencies and economic organizations and track prime candidates for positions in Shanghai, officials said.
An assessment system based on academic background and work experience will be used to determine compensation, Sun said.
Sun said that the bureau will host a conference in June on venture capital project exchanges. It will be a way to help students or recent graduates establish their own businesses or develop practical applications from their "pure research," the bureau director added.
Shanghai municipal personnel officials also said they want more local professionals and scientists to work in the West and see how things are done there.
About 100 local doctoral candidates and holders of doctorates will be sent overseas, they said.
Plus, 100 government workers involved in such areas as intellectual property rights and international trade will be sent overseas to join in projects with Western governments. The experience will help Shanghai be run more efficiently, they said.
(eastday.com February 8, 2002)
