Chongqing sets sights firmly on future

Suppliers located

More than 35,000 small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises from China have been connected to CD Industry Inc's platform, which has also enabled over 5,000 overseas companies involved in the Belt and Road Initiative to find suppliers in China.

Data from the Chongqing Liangjiang New Area Administrative Committee show that strategic emerging industries account for more than 59 percent of the area's industrial output.

In the first 11 months of last year, the output of electronics companies in the area reached 165.6 billion yuan, a year-on-year rise of 13.6 percent.

In addition to developing new industries, the area is advancing traditional ones such as the automobile sector. Chongqing is now one of the country's leading centers for car manufacturing, attracting global brands such as Hyundai, Iveco, General Motors and Ford.

A 5G intelligent heavy-duty truck produced by SAIC Hongyan, an automobile manufacturer headquartered in Liangjiang New Area, debuted recently at Shanghai Yangshan Port. The truck, which can collect and analyze data and upgrade it automatically, has helped the facility become one of the world's first smart ports with 5G technology.

Despite the challenges brought by the pandemic, the company exported 64 heavy-duty trucks to Turkmenistan late last year. The vehicles have been customized to cope with rugged terrain in the Central Asian nation.

Lou Jianping, president of SAIC Hongyan, said: "The company will continue to increase exports to the Central Asian market. Exporting vehicles to Turkmenistan has expanded our overseas presence.

"As part of the BRI, we will continue to beef up our efforts in going abroad and actively exploring overseas markets."

In the first three quarters of last year, the automaker shipped about 1,000 trucks to countries and regions involved in the BRI, including Cambodia, Vietnam and the Democratic Republic of Congo. For three years running, it has topped the market share in China for this type of vehicle.

Lou added: "Last year, our export business saw 50 percent year-on-year growth. This year, it is set to witness further explosive expansion."