“When we thought it would take days, the approval was stamped right on the spot.” Zhang Shize, director of the Shanghai LETS Sci-Tech Park project, expressed his relief after witnessing local authorities quickly review and approve the project’s modification request.

LETS Group, a Xiamen-based publicly traded company specializing in advanced materials and construction technology services, invested hundreds of millions to set up its second headquarters in Baoshan. Originally scheduled to be completed by December 2024, the project faced a six-month delay due to external factors. To avoid breaching the contract, the company urgently needed approval for an extension.

The Baoshan District Integrated Investment Promotion Service Center (“the Center”) swiftly organized evaluations with relevant departments. During the next Monday’s centralized office hours, the company obtained stamped approvals from the Baoshan District Commission of Economy and the Baoshan District Investment Promotion Office.

Established in November 2024, the Center aims to address bottlenecks and speed up project delivery, responding to the needs of investment services. Since its launch, the Center has made noticeable improvements.

Beyond Routine Approvals

When submitting the request for a project delay for the Shanghai LETS Sci-Tech Park, 90% of the construction was already completed. However, the project faced delays due to external factors. The site is located on both sides of a river, and the main entrance, according to the original design, is on Jinshao Road. However, the road had not yet opened, preventing the project from meeting the fire safety requirement of two entrances, thus holding up the completion inspection and the project’s operational launch.

Upon reviewing the issue, the Center recognized that simply approving the delay was not enough. The solution required cooperation from multiple departments. So, a work order was issued to the Baoshan District Transportation Commission and the Baoshan District Commission of Housing and Urban-Rural Development.

Both departments quickly responded during a consultation meeting. The Baoshan District Transportation Commission confirmed that the construction of Jinshao Road was scheduled for completion in 2025 and could be completed soon. They also proposed the option of using an alternative route and developing a temporary entrance. The Baoshan District Commission of Housing and Urban-Rural Development stated that they would assist the project in passing the completion inspection through a conditional approach based on the temporary entrance solution proposed by the company.

“We’ve invested a significant amount, and naturally, we want the project completed and operational as soon as possible. We are ‘newcomers’ here and unsure of how to navigate many issues,” said Zhang Shize. “The government has now provided us with a clear path and timeline, which is crucial for us.”

The work order was successfully resolved, but the Center’s work didn’t stop there. Could this solution become a model to help other projects avoid unnecessary delays?

By analyzing this experience, the Center was able to handle the Minhong Smart Fangzhou Technology Park project more effectively. This project also faced a similar issue with an unopened road—Tianchun Road—blocking completion inspections and tenant move-ins. Ultimately, a consultation meeting concluded that, in the absence of the Tianchun Road entrance, the project would proceed with a conditional commitment from the developer to ensure the overall completion inspection passed.

“By learning from these experiences, we’re continually refining our processes and improving our mechanisms to tackle problems at their root,” said an official from the Baoshan District Science and Technology Innovation Commission.

New Mechanisms Reshape Governance

Since its launch, the Center has confronted new challenges. The Gaojing Tiancheng Commercial Office Project, located in Gaojing Town, faced difficulties in securing an underground construction permit due to overlapping construction zones with the planned Metro Line 19 station, causing delays.

“In the past, metro projects would be prioritized, and other local projects would follow. But this time, the private project was scheduled to begin in January, and any delay would affect subsequent constructions and business operations,” explained a representative from Gaojing Town.

Upon receiving the request for assistance, the Center immediately forwarded the issue to the Baoshan District Transportation Commission and invited the Shentong Metro Group to join the consultation. During the Center’s weekly office meeting, district officials coordinated with representatives from the Baoshan District Investment Promotion Office, Baoshan District Major Projects Office, and the Gaojing Town Government. They reached a consensus based on safety assessments by professionals, and Shentong Metro Group approved the construction plan.

Once Shentong Metro Group approved the plan, the Baoshan District Construction Affairs Acceptance Center and the Baoshan District Planning and Natural Resources Bureau acted quickly, issuing underground construction permits within two weeks, allowing the project to move forward with full-scale construction.

Currently, the Center is drafting or refining five new procedural mechanisms, including land management guidelines for Wu Song Innovation City, processes for industrial land project implementation, and guidelines for environmental impact assessments of projects outside the industrial park, responding to recurring issues from local towns. In addition, 9 permanent units and nearly 30 mobile staff members now meet weekly at the Baoshan District Administrative Service Center while maintaining daily communication and tracking progress.

The new mechanisms for investment services are pushing departments to adapt to these new standards. Now, relative departments aim to resolve issues, meet needs, or complete approvals within two weeks of receiving a work order.