The number of publicly-traded enterprises from Taicang doubled in 2015, according to Taicang Daily. Eight companies from the city went public during the year, bringing the total number to 16.

Suchuang Gas raised 416 million HK dollars by floating the Main Board of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited on March 11 of last year.

Four companies were listed on the National Equities Exchange and Quotations system over the course of the year. These include Xiangtang Danbao (831959), a bonding company; Xingyu Baozhuang (832364), a paper product producer; Huachen Jinghua (833923), a treatment equipment manufacturer; and Xintuo Wuliu (834590), a logistics company.

Three companies went public on the Shanghai Equity Exchange, including Suzhou Furui Copper Alloy Technology Co (100468); Jinsanyuan Zhaoming (207075), a lighting supplier; and Gongde Shengjiang (208245), a producer of lifting apparatuses.

The 16 companies now listed publicly in Taicang have raised a cumulative 4.11 billion yuan ($633 million) on their respective stock exchanges.

Taicang's development and reform commission played a key role in the IPOs, encouraging companies to gain exposure to a broader investor base at various equity trading platforms and widen their influence.

IPO applications from three additional Taicang companies are currently being reviewed by the National Equities Exchange and Quotations, while a further two are preparing to submit their IPO documents.

Additional enterprises are preparing to list under a new shareholding system reform. Four have finalized the process and 18 are undergoing the reform.

In light of the tumultuous year experienced by domestic stock exchanges, the Taicang government is promoting the adoption of corporate bonds as an alternative funding vehicle.

Under the approval of the national development and reform commission, Taicang science education and culture development co issued a 7-year bond with a face value of 1.4 billion yuan in 2015. The money raised is being used for the construction of two industrial bases, one for information technology and one for industries related to the "smart city" construction.

Taicang companies launched nine products on the bond market in 2015, raising 9.2 billion yuan.

Edited by Jacob Hooson