Two projects in Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang province, were recently approved by the Ministry of Science and Technology as national foreign expert projects, local media reported.

The two projects involve the research and development of key technology and equipment to improve the quality of octopus products by Zhejiang Haishide Food Co, and the installation design of composite ship desulfurizer by Jinhai Intelligent Manufacturing Co.

Because of these projects, the companies leveraged entrepreneurs skilled in transnational operations and cross-cultural management and foreign experts to achieve breakthroughs in key technology, production and product design, in turn generating favorable economic and social benefits.

For example, the improved product helped Haishide achieve a 60 percent increase in overseas orders even during the COVID-19 outbreak. Its total output for the year is expected to hit 350 million yuan ($54.18 million), 50 million yuan more than that in 2019.

To date, Zhoushan has introduced 230 high-caliber foreign talents and 310 foreign professionals. The city has also opened an office at the Zhoushan administrative service center to deal with administrative affairs related to foreigners.