News

Jiangjin develops infrastructure, industry

By Zhang Zhao (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-10-14 07:58

Jiangjin in Chongqing has become a popular destination with both investors and homebuyers for its friendly environment and huge growth potential. Yang Hua / for China Daily

Once poverty stricken suburb thrives as part of Chongqing metropolis

An important Yangtze River trading post for more than 1,500 years, Jiangjin is now a major port in Chongqing municipality.

Previously a poor and undeveloped suburban area, the township became an official district of Chongqing in 2006.

Just 30 minutes from the city's center, Jiangjin was the focus of government plans to integrate formerly rural regions into a metropolitan economic zone.

"The zone gives us a competitive edge, recognizes our geographic advantage, and has helped us soar," said Wang Yinfeng, former Jiangjin district government head.

Since the project was announced in 2007, the government has built several roads and railways linking Jiangjin to the heart of Chongqing.

Expressways leading to neighboring Sichuan, Guizhou and Yunnan, Hubei and Shaanxi provinces were also constructed.

"Chongqing's growing population must branch out from the city center, and Jiangjin is without doubt the best destination," said Wang, citing his region's natural beauty and new infrastructure.

Recent construction in the economic zone will soon connect Binjiang New Town on the Yangtze's north bank to Jiangjin on the river's south bank.

The Chongqing expressway will become Jiangjin's outer ring road.

Since 2007, Jiangjin has had an average annual industrial growth of 37.5 percent. Its GDP has risen by roughly 16.8 percent annually, consistently five points higher than numbers reported between 1996 and 2007.

Despite the ongoing global financial crisis, Jiangjin achieved 25 billion yuan in GDP last year, increasing 16.5 percent from 2008.

Booming industry

More large-scale enterprises were set up in the past three years than in previous decades, with a total contracted investment surpassing 120 billion yuan.

The industrial economy has accounted for 70 percent of the district's economic growth.

More than 80 enterprises began operations in Jiangjin last year, including 52 large-scale business. Around 100 more are currently under construction.

The gross industrial output value of the district increased from 16.4 billion yuan in 2006 to 41 billion yuan in 2009.

That number is estimated to grow to 55 billion yuan by the end of this year, and exceed 100 billion yuan by 2012, according to government targets.

"Jiangjin has all the basic elements necessary to develop a modern, large-scale industrial district," said Wang.

But he pointed out a group of big enterprises are needed to make the 100-billion-yuan area possible.

Better business

The region's current Shuangfu, Degan and Luohuang industrial parks focus on machinery, food processing, printing and new material development.

Nearly 240 enterprises have opened operations in the parks, including Zrich-based engineering company ABB. To date, the parks have attracted 400 projects from around the world.

Now, with many leading national automakers, including Iron Horse and Yu'an, Jiangjin has become a major auto manufacturer instead of just a vehicle assembly center.

"Our three industrial parks have created a new economic growth sector," said Wang.

Twenty companies from Zhejiang province have built facilities in Jiangjin's Baisha vocational education zone, representing a multi-billion yuan investment.

Emerging Xiyong micro-electronic park is set to grow into a key laptop computer development base.

Already, Xiyong has attracted the attention of more than 100 IT companies from home and abroad. Nine have signed contracts with the park worth a total of 2 billion yuan.

Local authorities have invested 300 million yuan to improve city infrastructure along the Yangtze's south bank.

"We have achieved aims to make our city clean and green so that the residents do not have to polish their shoes twice in a single week," said officials.

A central business district, costing nearly 20 million yuan, is planned for the north bank of the Yangtze River. It will feature top level residential communities.

Modern agriculture

Jiangjin officials are also developing an urban-rural integration model. The government has proposed building a 200 square meter agricultural park in efforts to draw more capital.

The park has already attracted more than 10 billion yuan from 28 companies, including Macao-based Ganges Fruit Co Ltd and Germany-based Heka Group.

The farmland will be used to produce high-quality fruits, vegetables, oil-bearing crops and pepper. More than 2 million birds and cattle will be raised there, as well.

Around 450,000 Jiangjin farmers and 10,000 former migrant workers are now employed in the city.

An expanded transportation network brings Jiangjin closer to Chongqing's center. Provided to China Daily

An expressway on the outskirts of the city Xie Hongjun / for China Daily

(China Daily 10/14/2010 page6)