Shanghai eyes stronger services backed by tech

Metropolis unveils guideline to boost sector's role in driving consumption

The high-quality development of Shanghai's services sector should better serve technological advancement and boost consumption, the city's municipal government said in a recent guideline.

According to the guideline, which contains 31 detailed measures, the services sector must further consolidate its role as an economic driver, seek new growth momentum, better stimulate consumption and create a quality ecosystem.

While the services sector grew 5.7 percent year-on-year and contributed 78.2 percent to Shanghai's GDP last year, or more than 4.2 trillion yuan ($580 billion), the number of high-level service providers is still limited and the services provided are not diversified enough, said Qiu Wenjin, deputy director of the Shanghai Municipal Development and Reform Commission, in a news briefing on Monday.