First State Development Zone Built in NingxiaThe first state-level economic and technological development zone in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region was inaugurated in the capital city recently."This is part of China's efforts to speed up construction of the western regions in the new century," said Ma Qizhi, chairman of the region. The development zone, which covers 7.5 sq. km. in Yinchuan, has attracted 1,143 enterprises, of which, 22 are joint ventures. It is industrial and export oriented and features high-tech and speciality production. Its pillar industries include information, pharmacy, gas, finance and consultancy. Ningxia is home to 1.78 million Hui Muslims, accounting for one- third of the region's total population. The central government will set up three other state-level development zones in central and western China this year to speed up economic growth in the region. This will bring the total number of state-level development zones to 48. |
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