Guizhou follows high-tech path to growth

While many coastal provinces have benefited from the soaring growth of the manufacturing sector but now suffer from the consequences of its downturn, their inland counterparts such as Guizhou now have an alternative, energy-efficient path for growth - to go digital and go sustainable.

The southwestern province's move is in line with the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20), which encourages energy-saving and resource-efficient transition and upgrading.

Guizhou is going full steam ahead to tap into the big data business, launching the country's first big data pilot zone, focusing on big data sharing, application, innovation and security, and has also launched the Guiyang Big Data Exchange in the capital city, as well as the country's first local big data regulation.