Beijing On Way to Becoming Global Software Center

Beijing’s IT and software industries already employ more people than Silicon Valley and is set to produce 680 billion ($106.7 billion) in revenues with 700,000 employees by 2015, according to Beijing Business Today.

Beijing currently employs 400,000 in these two industries, more than all of Ireland and half again as much as Bangalore, India’s software capital, according to the Beijing Municipal Commission of Economy and Information Technology.

“Software and the information technology industry are important for establishing a world city,” said Jiang Guiping, vice director of Beijing Municipal Commission of Economy and Information Technology. “The two industries are suitable to be developed in Beijing due to their characteristics of being intellectual-oriented, non-polluting and possessing low energy consumption and high penetration.”

These industries enjoyed 20% growth in Beijing during the period of the government’s 11th five-year plan (2006-2010). They are now current with global trends in areas like cloud computing, the mobile internet and e-commerce. They are becoming key to Beijing’s innovative industries, contributing 40% of the output for the city’s cultural and creative industries while playing a key role in its intellectual life.

However, the industries face challenges in Beijing, including the rising cost of real estate and infrastructure, domestic and foreign competition and a shortage of talented, creative personnel with international experience.