The establishment of the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone is exciting news, even for a 100-year-old company like Netherlands-based Royal DSM.

"The launching of the FTZ in Shanghai means that the country is giving this cosmopolitan city a different orientation. We are quite excited about the news and are looking forward to the future benefits it will bring," said Jiang Weiming, president of DSM China (Ltd).

He said the company has high expectations of what the FTZ will herald in terms of facilitating smoother trade to bolster imports and exports, such as by easing taxes and providing more internationally friendly services.