Mapping a blueprint for sustained growth

The Huludao Northern Port Industrial Zone is emerging as a modern industrial site in its region of Liaoning province following a development plan mapped out by the zone's administrative committee.

Situated in Huludao, a western coastal city, the zone has been listed one of the province's five key investment destinations.

With a total developed area of 35 sq km planned, the zone includes Huludao Port, Dayushan Industry Park, a business center and other four industrial parks for shipbuilding and related facilities, a center for warehousing and logistics, and sites for both light and general industries.

The zone's authorities have made it clear in the plan that they will complete construction of infrastructure for the general industry park, shipbuilding facilities and the warehousing and logistics centers in the next three years.

At that time, the first phase of Huludao Port will be put into operation, and the second-phase of the port and the zone's other sections will begin construction.

The mid-term goal of the zone is completion of the general industry park and the shipbuilding site in five years, when the second phase of port construction will be also finished. When complete, the port is expected to accommodate an annual throughput of 50 million tons of goods.

The warehousing and the logistics hub, along with Huludao's light industry park, will also be established along with the zone's other sectors.

The long-term goal is for a modern, 35 sq km industrial zone fully developed in 10 years.

The zone authority's ambitions are already supported by an investment boom, with 72 projects costing 42.6 billion yuan already signed.

Some 254 km east of the province's capital Shenyang and 411 km west of Beijing, the city is seen as a crossroads between northeast and northern regions of China.

Through its Huludao Port, the zone has an advantage offering throughput for local shipping and consumption- Qinhuangdao Port is 150 km distant while Tianjin, another key port in north China, is 537 km away.

The location provides advantages in developing shipbuilding, local logistics and foreign trade, according to its development plan.

Leading industrial players nearby - including Northeast Nonferrous Metal Group, Bohai Shipbuilding Heavy Industry Co Ltd and PetroChina's Jinxi subsidiary - provide strong industrial support.

In addition, the local government has launched a series of favorable policies, including tax incentives, to attract investment.

The zone's administrative committee offers a one-stop administrative service to increase efficiency of administrative services.

Pipe networks totaling 117 km for heat, water and sewage treatment are now in use.

Thirteen new roads totaling 40 km have been built along with the planting of 208,000 sq m of green coverage.

(China Daily 03/05/2008 page28)