Chongqing - Through the expansion of the Yuxinou (Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe) railway, the first China Railway Express route, and the New International Land-Sea New Trade Corridor (ILSTC), Chongqing has now emerged as a global hub for the electronic information industry, setting its sights on achieving a trillion-yuan production value.

Logistics brought a chain reaction in investment attraction

On September 20, the 400 millionth "made-in-Chongqing" HP computer rolled off the production line. It took HP eight years to produce the first billion in Chongqing and only seven years to reach the four billion mark.

The journey for Chongqing's electronic information industry started from scratch when HP established its production base for laptop computers in Chongqing in 2009. To create a comprehensive industry ecosystem, Chongqing gradually brought the production of raw materials and components to the local level, reaching localized support and significantly reducing logistics costs.

HP's presence in Chongqing had a profound impact on the region's logistics. For instance, in order to expedite the export of HP products to Europe, Chongqing modified the design of the Jiangbei International Airport and innovatively launched the Yuxinou Railway, reducing the freight space distance from Chongqing to Duisburg, Germany, to just 13 days.

The enhancement of logistics channels brought a chain reaction in attracting investment to Chongqing's electronic information industry. Laptop manufacturing companies like Foxconn, Quanta Computer, and Inventec, as well as whole-device enterprises like Acer, Asus, and Lenovo, have successively set up operations in Chongqing.

Quanta Computer (Chongqing) manufacturing base, with a daily production capacity of over 100,000 laptop computers. (Photo/Quanta Computer)

In 2019, the value added by Chongqing's electronic information industry accounted for 16.6% of the total industrial output in the city, with a growth contribution of 33.9%, surpassing the automobile industry to become the leading force in the city's industrial growth, a position it maintains to this day.

From laptops to diversified electronic information products

Driven by big data and artificial intelligence development, Chongqing continues to promote the entire industrial chain layout, including chips, screens, terminals, core electronic components, and internet connectivity. 

As the laptop industry continues to grow, Chongqing's electronic information products have diversified from a single focus on laptops to include smartphones, printers, displays, routers, switches, and more.

In July 2013, BOE, the global leader in the LCD (display) sector, launched its 8.5-generation LCD display panel production line project in the Liangjiang New Area Shuitu High-Tech Industrial Park, propelling Chongqing's electronic information industry into the high-end market.

BOE's 6th-generation AMOLED (Flexible) display product samples in Chongqing. (Photo/BOE)

"The arrival of BOE filled the void in our city's LCD panel industry, initiated a new chapter in the development of display panel production, significantly increased the local supply chain for laptop and smartphone products, and also achieved vertical integration of the laptop and smartphone industries," said Yi Xiaoguang, former director of the Chongqing Institute of Comprehensive Economic Research.

Yi added this drives Chongqing's electronic information industry towards high-quality development.