The Suzhou Industrial Park in JiangsuGprovince, a joint development project between the governments of China and Singapore, has been making major headway since construction began six years ago.

By the end of last year, the park had approved the establishment of 174 overseas-funded enterprises, including 148 industrial enterprises, 86 of which are now in operation.

By 1999 the park had introduced 6.68 billion US dollars of contractual overseas investment.

Most of the overseas-funded enterprises in the park are involved in hi-tech areas like electronics, pharmaceuticals, and fine machinery.

The operation of a customs office in the park together with last year's establishment of an administration for entry-exit inspection and quarantine have further improved the local investment environment.

The park is situated in eastern Suzhou. Infrastructure construction on the first-phase eight-sq-km developed land in the park has been completed. In the next three years, an additional two square kilometers of land will be developed for the project.