Written by Li Yizhi / Translated by Huang Peng

Nanning High-Tech Industrial Development Zone: Precisely Aimed at Creating a 100-Billion-Yuan Development Zone

Written by Li Yizhi / Translated by Huang Peng

Nanning High-Tech Industrial Development Zone (NHTIDZ), located in the center of Beibu Gulf Economic Zone and the provincial capital of Guangxi, undertakes the key task of revitalizing industries in the whole autonomous region. After 30 years of development with clear orientations, NHTIDZ as the most mature and wellequipped economic zone in Guangxi has made great strides by taking resolute and timely actions: enjoying the highest industry agglomeration rate; registering the highest economic growth rate; and attracting a maximum of foreign direct investments.

In 2015, NHTIDZ’s total industrial output value surpassed 100 billion yuan, ranking 39thamong 115 national high-tech zones and topping the list in its category in Guangxi.

During the 12thFive-Year Plan period (2011-2015), NHTIDZ had been given a series of state-level titles related to demonstration bases and pilot zones. The increasing responsibilities indicate that the Zone has been gradually acknowledged by the society.

The importance of high-tech enterprises and talents

Those enterprises and innovative talents gaining access to the Zone, like the locomotive of a train, decide where the Zone goes. They give strong and continuous impetus to the Zone’s technological development.

“Since NHTIDZ was set up, not only has it constantly brought in high-tech enterprises, but also encouraged the old ones to innovate,” said the head of the Party Working Committee of NHTIDZ. By now, NHTIDZ has initially formed its industry system, which is led by three featured industries: bioengineering and health, electronic information, as well as auto parts and mechanical and electrical manufacturing. These three areas account for 80% of the Zone’s total value of output.

Regarding biological medicine, NHTIDZ is both the “National Sub-tropical Biological Industry Base” and the “National High-Tech Biological Industry Base”. As for electronic industry, NHTIDZ has been entitled successively the “National Torch Program Software Industrial Base” and the “National Demonstration Base of E-Commerce”. And in regard to automobile manufacturing aggregation, NHTIDZ gathers 59 wellknown enterprises, including Nanning Baling Technology.

“The Zone will forestall and develop a new generation of information technology industries like intelligent equipment industry, health industry, energy-saving industry and modern service industry,” said the head. He also stated that the introduction of advanced technologies like intelligent information terminal, satellite navigation, cloud computing, and new energy auto mobile, will ensure the Zone continue to prosper in the new period.

The Zone has also brought in some modern service industries to the area around Bright Moon Lake, represented by science and technology service industry, cultural creativity industry, and energy-saving industry, all of which have contributed to promoting domestic demand and transforming the old development mode.

If the industries reveal the current state of the Zone, then the talents decide its future. The place where NHTIDZ is located has gathered many famous colleges of Guangxi, including Guangxi University and Guangxi University for Nationalities.

NHTIDZ also provides gifted youths with chances to enter into big enterprises. The platforms here are irreplaceable because they serve as the incubators, turning ideas into social values.

Challenges and opportunities in the new period

“New period and new circumstances call for new development concepts,” said Secretary Huang Ruibin. The proposals like “the Belt and Road”, “Made in China 2025”, and “Internet Plus” are all valuable opportunities to Chinese industries. The future belongs to those who can take the chance.

The implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative is of utmost importance to enhance the connectivity and trade cooperation level between Nanning and other regions. Supported by the government, NHTIDZ will serve as the core pillar of the Beibu Gulf Economic Zone, and the strategic pivot of the Southwest and Mid-South Region. With that, it will accelerate the development of Beibu Gulf Economic Zone and the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area.

“Made in China 2025” is the supportive project of the government to the manufacturing industry. And the popularity of the internet will inevitably create a batch of new commercial activities. The improvement of the manufacturing level will help promote the emerging industries. Opportunities always go hand in hand with challenges. Now the development of the Zone is restricted by some problems. We need to deepen reforms and accelerate the economic restructuring.

According to Secretary Huang Runbin, six measures are to be taken to meet the challenges in the new period: first, make an overall and scientifi c planning; second, restructure enterprises and cultivate new growth points; third, develop modern service industries; fourth, promote industrial development with innovative technologies; fifth, establish five statelevel platforms; sixth, enhance industrial enterprise services.