Sharing Cooperation Opportunities: Multinational Giants Accelerate their Layout in TEDA

From March 22 to 23, the China Development Forum 2026 was held in Beijing. With the theme "China in the 15th Five-Year Plan Period: Advancing High-Quality Development and Creating New Opportunities Together", this year’s forum attracted nearly 100 global business leaders.

In the Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area (TEDA), less than an hour from Beijing by high-speed rail, multinational giants such as Volkswagen Group, Samsung Electronics, Otis, and Novo Nordisk are accelerating their expansion. These long-time partners of TEDA are demonstrating their confidence and determination through concrete actions, embodying the belief of "investing more in China means investing more in the future".

·Volkswagen Group·

The "TEDA Practice" in the New Energy Transformation

Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Group, said at the China Development Forum that this year marks a decisive period for the Group's entry into the new energy vehicle market.

In TEDA, this strategy has already been fully implemented. In January this year, the first pure electric model of car project at FAW-Volkswagen Tianjin Branch, VW316/9CN_B, was officially launched. To ensure mass delivery by 2027, the Tianjin Branch has initiated the largest-scale renovation in its history, covering the four major processes of stamping, welding, painting, and final assembly, in order to introduce Volkswagen Group’s new CMP pure electric platform and build the facility into a comprehensive production base with a full product structure featuring fuel and electric vehicles on the same production line.

"The decision to establish this new model project in Tianjin was driven by the vast market opportunities arising from the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Coordinated Development Strategy," said Wang Kairui, Party Secretary and General Manager of FAW-Volkswagen Tianjin Branch. "As one of China’s key hubs, Tianjin offers a comprehensive supply chain, convenient transportation and logistics, and high-quality government services".

In 2025, FAW-Volkswagen Tianjin Branch achieved a vehicle output of more than 210,000 units, representing a year-on-year increase of 8.2%. In 2026, the company is set to commence mass production of two new models. According to its development roadmap, the Tianjin Branch will complete its strategic transformation to the full product structure by 2027.

At the same time, Volkswagen Automatic Transmission has reached a supply cooperation agreement with Inovance Automotive for a drive motor gear shaft project, marking a key step in its diversified development. As an important component manufacturing and R&D base for the Group in China, the Tianjin plant has successfully established production lines for multiple drive motors and plans to increase its investment in Tianjin to further deepen its layout in new energy businesses.

·Otis·

Actively Engaging in Urban Renewal

After attending the China Development Forum, Judy Marks, Chair, Chief Executive Officer and President of Otis Worldwide Corporation, visited Tianjin to discuss the company’s development strategy and practical initiatives in the city, demonstrating firm confidence in continuing to deepen its presence in the Chinese market and expand cooperation in Tianjin.

In recent years, Otis has actively participated in Tianjin’s urban renewal efforts while continuously optimizing its products and services. This February, Otis put a brand-new flexible production line into operation at its TEDA facility. Specifically engineered for elevator modernization in aging residential communities and the renovation of existing buildings, this line enables the intelligent manufacturing of a variety of customized products while boosting production efficiency by about 30%. Currently, this flexible production line is operating at full capacity, precisely meeting the personalized requirements of ongoing projects.

Having been deeply rooted in Tianjin for more than 40 years, Otis currently operates four subsidiaries in TEDA. With the establishment of its Northern R&D Center in 2023, the company has achieved a comprehensive "Made in TEDA" process from research and development to production. The TEDA base has now grown into Otis’s largest elevator manufacturing base worldwide and its sole global production base for high-speed elevators.

 "Tianjin possesses many aging buildings, similar to other regions in China, faces the challenge of an aging population. Over the years, we have worked closely with the government, fully leveraging Tianjin’s industrial manufacturing capabilities to create a high-quality lifestyle for the people. At the Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area, Otis not only manufactures products for the entire country, but also exports products to other parts of the world," said Judy Marks.

·Schneider Electric·

Integrated Innovation of "Power + AI"

Jean-Pascal Tricoire, Chairman of Schneider Electric, pointed out at the forum that China is the world’s first electrostate and also a hub for the AI industry.

In TEDA, Schneider Electric is transforming these two advantages into concrete industrial practice. As a major manufacturer of miniature circuit breakers, the production line at Schneider Merlin Gerin Low Voltage (Tianjin) Co., Ltd. is operating with high intensity and precision. In 2022, the Schneider Electric Smart Manufacturing Innovation Center was inaugurated, aiming to deeply integrate electrification, automation, and digital-intelligent technologies, and to build a new type of power system covering all scenarios through AI technologies. With this, Schneider Electric has completed the layout of a smart factory plus a Smart Manufacturing Innovation Center in TEDA, becoming a benchmark for digital transformation.

"Schneider Electric remains firmly optimistic about China’s development prospects over the long term," stated Tricoire. "We will increase our investment in China, strengthen technological innovation, ecosystem collaboration, and talent empowerment, and actively promote the energy transition and the upgrading of major industries."

·Samsung Electronics·

The "TEDA Speed" amid Technological Iteration

Samsung Electronics demonstrated it steady presence the Chinese market during this year's forum. To address the tightening supply in the memory chip market driven by surging demand for AI computing power, the company is increasing its investment in China to expand its supply capacity.

By the end of 2025, Tianjin Samsung SDI Co., Ltd. completed an upgrade of its mobile phone battery technology in TEDA, transitioning from traditional winding to stacked technology. This innovation not only improves space utilization but also ensures more uniform current distribution and longer standby times. This new product officially entered mass production this year. To further expand production capacity, the company has added two new production lines. A company representative stated that full‑year sales are expected to increase by 20% year on year, and the company will continue to increase investment based on market order volume.

As a leader in the multilayer ceramic capacitor field, Samsung Electro-Mechanics has deeply rooted in TEDA for more than 30 years, continuously increasing investment and expanding supply chain cooperation. In recent years, as demand for automotive electronic products continues to surge, the company has seen a significant spike in global orders, leading to a notable increase in the market share of its Tianjin plant. To ensure order delivery, the company has invested in building new production lines in TEDA to expand capacity.

"Samsung Electro-Mechanics will remain rooted in Tianjin, maintain steady investments, and seek further cooperation opportunities to expand its supply chain channels."

·Novo Nordisk·

From "Innovation Destination" to "Starting Point of Innovation"

Emil Kongshøj Larsen, Global Executive Vice President of Novo Nordisk, attended the China Development Forum for the first time this year. He noted that for Novo Nordisk, China has long evolved from a destination for innovation into a starting point of innovation.

This strategic shift has a clear practical pathway in TEDA. In 1994, Novo Nordisk (China) Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. established its presence in the Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area. Since then, Novo Nordisk has continuously expanded its footprint in TEDA, with its cumulative investments exceeding RMB 10 billion. Today, all insulin products launched by Novo Nordisk in China have now achieved localized production. The Tianjin production plant has also grown into one of Novo Nordisk’s global strategic manufacturing bases, supporting the development of more than 400 domestic suppliers.

In 2024, Novo Nordisk launched construction in TEDA on a sterile preparation expansion project with an investment of RMB 4 billion. In July 2025, the company signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation with the Administrative Commission of Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area to invest approximately RMB 800 million in expanding its quality control laboratory at its Tianjin site. The project is scheduled for completion by the end of this year, further solidifying the global strategic position of the Tianjin factory.

·Nestlé·

Building a Comprehensive Business System

Philipp Navratil, CEO of Nestlé Group, delivered a keynote speech during the forum, sharing his insights into global consumer trends and Nestlé’s development strategy in China. He also explained the company’s key plans regarding investment layout, AI applications, sustainable development, and team building in Chinese market.

TEDA was among the first strategic locations Nestlé chosen upon entering the Chinese market, and remains one of the most important hubs in its national business network. Since establishing its first Tianjin plant in 1994, Nestlé has continuously deepened its localized investment and expanded its strategic footprints. Currently, it operates two modern factories in TEDA, a Product Innovation Center, and a Quality Assurance Center, forming a comprehensive and coordinated business system.

In advancing the sustainable development of AI applications, the Tianjin factory has taken the lead, achieving an 89% CNC rate for key equipment and a 95% data acquisition coverage, and becoming Nestlé Greater China’s first national-level smart factory. The supportive Product Innovation Center introduces globally high value-added products and advanced production technologies to Tianjin, while carrying out localized R&D tailored specifically to Chinese consumers. Meanwhile, the Quality Assurance Center safeguards product quality throughout the entire process, facilitating rapid production and sales in the market.

In 2025, Nestlé (Tianjin) Co., Ltd. was recognized as a National-Level Excellent Smart Factory, reflecting Nestlé’s long-term commitment to the digital transformation and upgrading of manufacturing.

·Standard Chartered Group·

Strengthening Back-End Support for Global Operations

Bill Winters, Chief Executive of Standard Chartered Group, shared the Group’s practical experience in financial innovation at the forum and praised China as "a stable platform in an unstable world".

In TEDA, Standard Chartered Global Business Services Co., Ltd. is serving as the "back-end brain", providing stable foundation for the Group’s global operations. Established in 2007 and now home to over 2,000 employees, the company serves as an important back-office service hub for Standard Chartered Group in Asia, and comprehensively supports banking operations across Asia as well as the Group’s global technology development projects. Leveraging TEDA’s stable talent pool and favorable business environment, Standard Chartered Global Business Services Co., Ltd. continues to expand its presence in Tianjin, fully cultivating reserves of local talents in finance, technology, and management to undertake an increasing share of the Group's core businesses.

The accelerated expansion of multinational giants in TEDA epitomizes the high-quality development of the regional economy. Standing at the threshold of the 15th Five-Year Plan, TEDA will keep a more open posture and enhance its business environment to optimize the innovation ecosystem, and advance industrial upgrading, thereby attracting more investors both at home and abroad to establish roots and prosper together.