Expert talking on regional brand building at the forum [Photo/Xinhua]

Regional integration at Yangtze River Delta and brand economy development become top priorities at the second delta forum in Shanghai

Experts and entrepreneurs from prominent enterprises took part in the second Yangtze River Delta urban development forum at the China Financial Information Center in Shanghai, on Feb 6, which focused on emerging challenges and opportunities facing brand construction in delta economy development in the Internet era.

The details of a report submitted to the forum about the delta's brand economy in 2014 cast some light on the brand building situation on the ground, and the interrelationship between the brand of a city and of an enterprise in the area.

According to the report, the Yangtze River Delta benefited from developing brand economy, led by a cluster of 397 "China Time-honored Brands" in 30 major cities of the delta, accounting for 37.8 percent of the nation's total; 214 brands of geographical indication, 13.4 percent of the total. It, however, revealed fewer emerging Internet brands than that of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region and the Pearl River Delta.

At the same time, the report made suggestions to further boost the area's brand economy development, including spreading the brand concept, providing professional after-sales service, and increasing investment to foster leading regional brands. It also called on participants to coordinate and concentrate resources to strengthen the international competitiveness of the local brands.

A delta brand building service association was set up at the forum, to bring together regional institutes, professional service agencies and media firms to conduct brand research, design, marketing, communication, evaluation and training services for related institutions and enterprises.