Hanrong Gao, GM of Flamma Honkai (Dalian): I'm Fully Confident in Dalian's Future!

　　"I believe that in the next decade, Dalian will definitely usher in the opportunities for leapfrog development. I'm fully confident in Dalian's future!" In the eye of Hanrong Gao, a Chinese-American, Dalian Honorary Citizen and General Manager of Flamma Honkai (Dalian) Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Dalian, as an international shipping and logistics center and an advanced manufacturing base in Northeast China, has its unique natural conditions and infrastructure advantages.

In 2022, Hanrong Gao (left) was awarded the title of "Dalian Honorary Citizen".

(Photo by the interviewee)

　　Thanks to his recommendation, Flamma Group from Italy relocated its Chinese factory from Shanghai to Dalian in 2008.

　　The connection between Hanrong Gao and Dalian can be traced back to the 1980s when he was pursuing a doctoral degree there. In the following two to three decades, he has remained attentive to the development and changes of the city.

　　"Dalian is among the earliest state-level economic and technological development zones in China. It has always been at the forefront of the country's reform and opening-up. From all levels of government and all walks of society, the concept of openness is quite advanced. As a foreign-funded enterprise, we do need such a favorable business environment," said Gao, who explained the reason for selecting Dalian after this consideration. 

　　In the initial stage, only a R&D team with over 20 members was relocated to Dalian, but now Flamma Honkai (Dalian) Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. has more than 300 employees, with products mainly for export. The Phase II project is scheduled to be launched into operation next May, and at that time the staff size will be over 500 persons with doubling production capacity.

　　"Over the past 16 years, we have received assistance and support from many stakeholders in Dalian. Every year the CEO of Flamma Group visits Dalian several times and shows satisfaction with the city each time," said Hanrong Gao.

In 2022, Hanrong Gao delivered a speech at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Phase II project.

(Photo by the interviewee)

　　The prosperous pharmaceutical market in China has brought new opportunities for the development of Flamma Hongkai (Dalian). According to him, thinking highly of the Chinese market and the natural advantages of the port city of Dalian, Flamma Group has expanded its investment in China and gradually focused more on Dalian. "The launch of Phase II project will be followed by Phase III, which will form a situation of dual development of overseas and domestic markets with Dalian as the foundation," introduced by Hanrong Gao.

　　"As a foreign-funded pharmaceutical enterprise, we serve as a bridge connecting Dalian to the world. Our resonance with the city’s growth will further boost the coordinated development of upstream and downstream enterprises within the industrial chain," said Hanrong Gao, "as a Dalian Honorary Citizen, I am extremely willing to devote myself to the development of Dalian, with the goal of achieving a win-win outcome for the enterprise and the city."