Taizhou deepens Belt and Road cooperation with agri-tech and manufacturing exports

Taizhou is expanding its cooperation with countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative by exporting agricultural technologies and high-end manufacturing solutions.

From January to May, the city's trade with BRI partner countries reached 36.47 billion yuan ($5.37 billion), including 26.1 billion yuan in exports and 10.37 billion yuan in imports.

Earlier this year, the first operation center of the Agricultural Collaborative Development Committee under the Silk Road Cities Alliance was launched in Xinghua, Taizhou. The center serves as a platform for promoting agricultural technology and equipment overseas.

According to Zhang Yuchao, vice-chairman of the committee, Xinghua was selected because of its strong economic foundation and its long-standing leadership in modern agricultural equipment.

Since its establishment, the committee has supported the export of agricultural equipment and technical services to countries including Laos and Cote d'Ivoire in 2025 and 2026.

One of the companies driving this effort is Skyplant Greenhouse, which specializes in intelligent hydroponic systems, automated greenhouses and sustainable cultivation solutions. Its self-developed vertical hydroponic towers, multi-layer growing racks and containerized vegetable farms have been exported to Pakistan, Laos and Indonesia.

The company has also developed a multi-layer hydroponic forage cultivation system designed for livestock farming in desert and extremely cold regions. The system produces fresh forage in just seven days, with a single 8-meter unit capable of yielding up to 800 kilograms per production cycle, helping address feed shortages for cattle and sheep in challenging environments.

Taizhou's advanced manufacturing sector is also making steady progress overseas. In early June, the steel structure for the Belgrade Fair Hall in Serbia, constructed with the participation of CSCEC Steel Structure Jiangsu in Jingjiang, was topped out.

The venue, a key project for the 2027 World Expo, is expected to become a landmark exhibition complex in Southeast Europe.

The company has also secured contracts for a number of major overseas projects, including a highway in Morocco and a spherical theater in Abu Dhabi, with the total value of its international contracts now reaching 5 billion yuan.