Despite having retired from the Nantong Bureau of Commerce, Zheng Jianjun is still an important figure in the city’s opening-up, especially for economic cooperation with Singapore.

The former deputy director of the bureau’s investment promotion department, Zheng,who retired in August 2014, has devoted 30 years to opening-up the economy of Nantong.

During the past decade, Zheng has put a lot of effort into bridging trade ties betweenNantong and Singapore.He helpe dintroduce a range of large investment projects fromthe Southeast Asian country to Mthe city and is trusted by many Singaporean business groups.

At the end of May, Zheng invited 17 Singaporean entrepreneurs to the 2015 China Nantong Jianghai Expo. The business group visited a new economic development zone in Nantong’s Tongzhou Bay area and showed great interest in some of the projects.

The economic development zone in Tongzhou Bay is developing a technology innovation park to accommodate Singaporean high-tech companies, building plants and also offeringpersonnel and policy support.

Zheng’s connection with Singapore dates back to 2006. That year, Zheng attended Asia Pacific Maritime in Singapore, one of Asia’s biggest exhibitions and conferences focusing on shipbuilding and marine business. He also took charge of organizing a conference on cooperation in the maritime industry between Nantong and Singapore.

Zheng attended the maritime expo every year after that, bringing back investments andorders for shipbuilding companies in Nantong. The deals he arranged included big names in Singapore’s business circles, including Keppel Corp and Sembcorp Industries.

From 2007, Zheng took charge of all the cooperation conferences between the Nantong city government and the Sutong Science and Technology Park in Singapore. He would prepare for a long time before every event.

In 2010, Zheng spent more than one month preparing for a cooperation conference in Singapore to promote the Sutong Science and Technology Park. During that month, he flewbetween the two locales many times working as a coordinator to set program schedules, book venues and invite guests and experts.

His hard work paid off. On June 8, 2010, the conference began and attracted much attention. More than 400 Singaporean officials and businesspeople attended the event.

Zheng enjoys a good reputation as a meticulous coordinator. He has received more than 800 officials and businesspeople from Singapore, helping them settle during their trips and arranging visits to Nantong companies and media coverage.

Zheng’s efforts also brought a three-year cooperation agreement between the Nantong Bureau of Commerce and the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in 2013.

Goi Seng Hui, chairman of Tee Yih Jia Food Manufacturing, said that among all the Nantong officials he has worked with, Zheng is the most dedicated.“He always gives us a warm welcome and is very responsible for his job.”

Lin Weiqi, director of the Shanghai office of the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that Zheng’s commitment and his contributions to his job, seekingmore business opportunities for Nantong, have been impressive.

During the Spring Festival holiday in 2014, Zheng continued working — visiting Singaporean companies and entrepreneurs to promote joint projects.