To improve the current overreliance on traditional industries, such as non-ferrous metals industries, the Kunming Hi-Tech Zone strives to develop newly-emerging industries and optimize the industrial structure in the zone. The industry tax structure, as a result, features some new characteristics.

First, the proportion of the non-ferrous metals industry tax has been sinking. In 2007, it accounted for 60.79 percent of the overall tax in the zone. In 2014, however, the tax share has reduced to 2.17 percent.

Second, the emerging industries have become new tax revenue growth points. The Kunming Hi-Tech Zone has been promoting technological innovation and the emerging industries development park in recent years. As a result, tax revenues in biological medicine, electromechanical equipment manufacturing, electric apparatus manufacturing, and optical instrument manufacturing industries have been continuously growing. Most of all, compared with 2010, the electrical apparatus manufacturing industry tax in 2013 has increased by 87.73 percent.

Third, the tax revenue from new technology enterprises in traditional industries has increased. For example, the vehicle catalyst project of the Sino-platinum Metals Co and new energy and environmental protection project of Yunnan Reascend Tobacco Technology Co are constantly developing. The tax revenue from these two projects has increased by 4.2 million yuan ($680,000) from January to July of 2014, compared with the same period last year.

By Shi Zihan and edited by Brian Salter