BEIJING, Feb. 28 -- China will boost its 3D printing sector to help domestic enterprises master core technology and compete abroad, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) said on Saturday.

The government will help establish a primary industry for the sector by 2016, it said.

The ministry also plans to set up an industrial association and to build five or six research centers.

The government hopes the sector can catch up with cutting-edge companies internationally and grab a lion's share in the market, especially in aviation.

The ministry expects the sector to grow around 30 percent year on year in 2016, it said.