A view of Hongqiao CBD in the evening. [Photo/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The Shanghai Hongqiao Central Business District (CBD) management committee has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Shanghai Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau to work toward building the area into a high-end personnel cluster for the modern services sector.

The agreement, signed on Sept 20, calls for the introduction of a wide range of measures to make Hongqiao a world-class destination for businesses and talent in the services sector.

The application process for residence permits, work visas and business licenses will be streamlined and sped up to make it much easier for high-level businesses and talent from outside Hongqiao to settle in the area. A number of certificate accreditation windows will also be established in the district to facilitate this.

Both sides agreed to support the construction of innovation and entrepreneurship bases in Hongqiao CBD to lay the foundations for technological innovation and the upgrading of local industry.

The Shanghai Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau also pledged to offer training programs for entrepreneurship and innovation talent at all levels.

The cooperation agreement is expected to create a more competitive environment to attract global talent to work in Hongqiao CBD and contribute to the region's development, according to Hongqiao CBD management committee.