On November 7, it was learned from the special session about Huaihua, one part of the press conference series on the development of Hunan under the “14th Five-Year Plan”(2021-2025), Huaihua has focused on building a “5+10” modern industrial system to promote the development of industrial clusters. The scale effects of industrial chains such as luggage, leather goods, and traditional Chinese medicine have gradually become prominent. The number of industrial enterprises above the designated size in Huaihua has reached 1,100, with the growth of 224 provincial-level specialized, refined, innovative and medium-sized enterprises, 8 national-level enterprises known as“Little Giant”, 72 intelligent manufacturing enterprises, 1 national-level eco-friendly park, and 4 national-level eco-friendly factories. The city now boasts 6 provincial-level distinctive industrial groups, and industrial development is steadily advancing toward high-end, intelligent, and eco-friendly transformation.
Industry is the foundation of high-quality development in Huaihua. The city is steadfastly committed to vigorously developing industries, continuously extending, supplementing, and strengthening industrial chains, and accelerating the establishment of a “5+10” modern industrial system. Five dominant and distinctive industries—luggage and leather goods, traditional Chinese medicine, eco-friendly mining, bamboo, and seed industries—are thriving, with the total output value of 10 key industrial chains growing at an average annual rate of 12.2%. Since the “14th Five-Year Plan”, Huaihua has focused on building the “5+10” modern industrial system in terms of “distinctive features”, “industrial chains”, and “upgrading”.
Huaihua leverages its comparative advantages to excel in developing “distinctive industries”. The city remains committed to strengthening the real economy and promoting industrial growth, with a focus on fostering characteristic and advantageous sectors. This has resulted in an industrial development pattern that the land port is used to attract industries and that local resources are drawn on to revitalize them. Building on the strengths of Huaihua International Land Port, the city has prioritized luggage and leather goods as the leading industry in its port-front industrial zone. In just two years, Huaihua, known as the “International Capital of Luggage”, has established a full industrial chain layout, attracting 187 enterprises within the chain. The total output value has exceeded 5 billion CNY, with an annual production capacity of 30 million pieces of luggage. Products are sold to more than 50 countries and regions worldwide. The industry related to trolley cases in Huitong County has been recognized as a provincial-level distinctive industrial cluster in terms of small and medium-sized enterprises. Capitalizing on traditional Chinese medicine resources such as poria cocos and polygonatum sibiricum, Huaihua has attracted renowned enterprises like Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Holdings, Sinochem Group, and Huarun 999. Compared with 2020, the comprehensive output value of the traditional Chinese medicine industry chain has reached 26.8 billion CNY, a significant increase of 160% . The “Southern Chinese Medicine Valley” is emerging as a powerful and influential hub.
Chain-based thinking is highlighted in Huaihua for the delivery of “industrial chains” initiative. By combining an effective market with a proactive government, the city has fostered a collaborative environment where “chain leaders (governments), leading enterprises, and chain ecosystems (business environment)” work in synergy. The chain leader responsibility system has been fully implemented, with the municipal Party Secretary and Mayor serving as chief chain leaders, and other municipal leaders acting as chain leaders. The system of “chain leaders going to the first line” is put into practice regularly, aiming to addressing challenges promptly and attracting major investments in a targeted way. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, Huaihua attracted 142 projects from “Fortune Global 500, Fortune China 500, and China’ top 500 private enterprises”. The added value of the manufacturing industry grew at an average annual rate of 12.5%, ranking among the top in Hunan province. Each industrial chain focuses on supporting one or two leading enterprises to drive the development of the whole chain. For instance, thanks to the leading companies like Huasheng and Mornsun, the electronic components industry has driven 111 enterprises with a certain scale in the chain. It has been recognized as a provincial-level distinctive industrial group in terms of small and medium-sized enterprises, establishing Huaihua as a nationally significant production base for passive electronic components. The initiatives such as “Problem-Solving Services” and “Together Benefiting Enterprises” have been carried out consistently in Huaihua. And “Entrepreneurs’ Day” is staged in Huaihua every May 5th, “Entrepreneur Green Cards (a kind of preferential card)” are issued for entrepreneurs, and the reputation of “Streamlined Services in Huaihua” continues to be enhanced. All these efforts have made Huaihua one of the most attractive destination for investment.
Huaihua has done a good job in “upgrading” the construction of priority Projects. Focused on achieving “dual improvements in both scale and quality”, we plan to implement over 200 key industrial projects and more than 50 technological transformation projects annually. These projects and technologies reinforce the accelerated transformation and upgrading of traditional industries. Chenzhou Mining, having seized the opportunity to become a national-level manufacturing champion, launched a new antimony-gold smelting technological transformation project. Upon completion and operation, it is expected to add over 10 billion CNY in output value, which, in turn, makes Chenzhou Mining be expected to move towards the goal of 30 billion CNY. This will push the output value of Huaihua’s green mining industry chain beyond 50 billion CNY, making it poised to become Huaihua’s first industry with 100 billion CNY. The integration of science and industry in Huaihua has yielded significant results, developing 8 national-level enterprises hailed as “Little Giant” and 615 high-tech enterprises in total. A number of high-level innovation platforms have been established, accelerating the formation of a comprehensive innovation ecosystem.
（Translated by Yang Sigui）