Xifeng Economic Development Zone boosts business environment

Since the beginning of this year, Xifeng Economic Development Zone in Guiyang, Southwest China's Guizhou province, has stepped up reforms in management, planning, infrastructure, investment promotion, and business services, helping projects get off the ground faster and businesses grow more efficiently.

A distant view of the factory area of Guizhou Xiyang Industrial Co. [Photo/xifeng.gov.cn]

From January to June, the zone recorded 1.96 billion yuan ($290.28 million) in added value from industries above designated size, up 22.7 percent year on year, while industrial investment reached 970 million yuan, demonstrating strong development momentum.

"It took less than two months from our first discussions to the contract signing," said Chen Xin, head of Guizhou Xicheng New Materials Technology Co. After the project was introduced to Xifeng, the zone provided assistance throughout the process, from site selection and administrative procedures to production. The project has a planned investment of about 820 million yuan, highlighting the zone's efforts to create a more efficient business environment.

To improve project services, the zone has promoted closer coordination among government departments, streamlined project approval and improved access to funding. During the first half of the year, it secured 125 million yuan in various types of funding.

The zone has also expanded development space and strengthened infrastructure. Its 12-square-kilometer planned area has been incorporated into the urban development area, with an additional 0.32-sq-km area added.

It also completed 9.5 kilometers of drainage network upgrades and 0.8 kilometers of power line construction, while building more than 800,000 square meters of standardized factory buildings and over 1,000 low-cost rental units.

In investment promotion and business services, the zone has worked with leading enterprises to attract projects, signing four new projects with a combined planned investment of 3.05 billion yuan. Officials have also visited companies to address practical challenges involving rent, natural gas, raw materials, and financing.

The zone has helped eight companies apply for additional tax deductions on R&D expenses totaling more than 70 million yuan, while two companies secured provincial science and technology support projects, bringing in 1.05 million yuan in funding.