A ceremony marking the 15th anniversary of the Changchun Economic and Technological Development Zone in Jilin province and the beginning of renewed development in the zone.
"Who are we and where do we want to go" are questions Huang Wenhua asked in September 2005 when he was named director of the administrative committee of the Changchun Economic and Technological Development Zone (CETDZ).
Founded in the capital of northeast China's Jilin province, the zone was established in 1992, about nine years later than similar zones in other parts of the country. Starting from scratch, 23 pioneers led it to reach the nation's top 10 by 2004.
By the end of that year, output value of the zone was 87.6 billion yuan and its aggregate industrial value reached 204.5 billion yuan. It ranked the 10th in an overall appraisal of national-level economic and technological development zones conducted by the Ministry of Commerce, surpassing 40 others which started earlier or at about the same time. Yet just a year later, it quickly dropped to 18th.
ceremony marking the 15th anniversary of the Changchun Economic and Technological Development Zone in Jilin province and the beginning of renewed development in the zone."The questions Huang raised were refreshing," said an unidentified official with the administration.
Huang's queries were followed by concrete moves. One of them was to trim the office staff from nearly 2,000 to about 600, which saved 100 million yuan a year.
Huang Wenhua, assistant mayor and chief of the Changchun Economic and Technological Development Zone, leads officials in their vow to rebuild the zone at the ceremony. photos by Sheng Xuesen
He introduced a new evaluation system that uses speeches, achievements and other specific indices. "The change went smoothly as each step showed its openness and justness," said the official.
Huang Wenhua, assistant mayor and chief of the Changchun Economic and Technological Development Zone, leads officials in their vow to rebuild the zone at the ceremony. photos by Sheng XuesenThe next strategy Huang introduced was to adjust corporate arrangements to improve the quality of industries in the zone. Instead of welcoming all investors, Changchun began choosing among them. Existing businesses were helped to enhance their innovation while foreign-funded companies were asked to bring in new technology and create new products.
"The idea is to avoid the cycle of costly development and redevelopment," Huang said.
His strategy worked. Between 2005 and 2007 all economic indices in the zone grew 30 percent or more. Gross industrial output value was raised from 34.7 billion yuan to 62 billion yuan.
In the 2006 appraisal of national economic and technological zones released by the Ministry of Commerce, Changchun's ranking jumped to the 15th overall and leading the nine such zones in central and northeast China.
Today autos and auto parts, biofuel and modern services have become three pillar industries of the zone. It is also cultivating food processing and the biomedicine sectors while tapping its opto-electrical potential.
The zone's output of special-purpose vehicles, auto parts and farm processing now accounts for 78 percent of its total.
The zone has also mapped out action plans to improve people's livelihoods. It spent 800 million yuan over the past two years to help with local farmers' housing, social security and medical care. Minimum social security and medical insurance are expected to cover all people in the zone by the end of the year.
Huang said the zone will continue its strategies this year to upgrade its southern sector, expand its northern area and link up to the east.
The southern part of Changchun Economic and Technological Development Zone is home to First Auto Works (FAW) Group of China. Different policies were adopted, with focuses on multi-purpose vehicles and rebuilt automobiles. A group of companies make engines and parts to serve FAW and other enterprises.
The northern area is scheduled to host industries of the future, among them corn processing and chemicals. Jilin province is the country's largest corn producer.
The corn industry park at Changchun sets the standard for food processing, Huang said, with production of ethanol from corn a new industry in the zone. Locals expect corn processing will not only add value but also promote the development of textiles, plastics and car production.
To the east of the zone is Changchun's airport. As Jilin's transport integrates further, the zone is building modern services for export processing and bonded logistics.
With new and high technology, modern manufacturing and a wider supply chain, the zone in Chang-chun is expected to become a new industrial hub for northeast Asia.
Source: China Daily
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