A production factory in the Xinghua Economic Development Zone. [Photo/Taizhou Daily]
The Xinghua Economic Development Zone in Xinghua, Jiangsu province, has concluded the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) period with fruitful results.
The zone's contribution to regional GDP continued to increase. Its regional GDP grew from 12.9 billion yuan ($1.86 billion) at the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016–20) to an estimated 21.2 billion yuan by 2025, with an average annual growth rate of over 10 percent.
The zone's industrial invoiced sales increased from 19.18 billion yuan at the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan to 26.07 billion yuan by 2025, marking a significant leap over the past five years. The health food industry, as the leading sector, recorded an average annual growth rate of over 10 percent in invoiced sales. The sector expanded into six major categories: compound seasonings, rice and flour products, premade foods, dehydrated fruits and vegetables, leisure foods, and dairy products.
During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, the zone was promoted to a national-level green industrial park and a provincial-level deep integration pilot unit for advanced manufacturing and modern service industries, among others.
Over the past five years, the zone also saw strong investment results. The zone signed a total of 158 projects during the period, averaging over 30 agreements per year, including 38 in 2025.
Focusing on the two leading industries of health food and high-end equipment, the zone's industrial cluster accelerated its scale, and the leading industries grew significantly.
Over the past five years, the zone broke ground on 94 new projects worth over 100 million yuan each, with a combined investment of 32.3 billion yuan, including 41 projects worth over 500 million yuan each. It also completed construction of 82 projects worth over 100 million yuan each, totaling 25.6 billion yuan, including 31 projects worth over 500 million yuan.