Qihe spurs economic growth with digitalized industries

A rendering of the digital economy park in Qihe. [Photo by Wang Yueqi, Kang Shilei, and Sun Shuyi for chinadaily.com.cn]

Qihe county in the city of Dezhou, Shandong province, began viewing digitalized industries as drivers of the digital economy last year.

The county invested 3 billion yuan ($417.47 million) in the development of a digital economy park, where 18 leading players in the digital economy, including Inspur Group have established a presence.

To support the digital transformation of traditional industries, Qihe has formulated a five-year plan involving financial subsidies, tax preferences, and talent introduction. The county has also partnered with Inspur to set up Inspur Zhiyuan (Dezhou) Digital Technology Co, which is expected to offer customized solutions to local businesses.

So far, over 50 Qihe enterprises have completed digital transformation and 31 have been recognized as "Morningstar Workshops", which are digital economy businesses with strong innovation capabilities, cutting-edge technologies and strong economic benefits, by provincial authorities.

In 2023, digital and platform economies in Qihe generated over 10 billion yuan in operating revenue, and the county itself was listed among the first pilot counties for Morningstar Workshops. (Edited by Gong Jun)