Chongqing - "We are focusing on making the Chongqing Economic and Technological Development Zone the main engine driving high-quality development in the Nan'an District," said Xu Hongbin, Secretary of the Communisrt Party of China Chongqing Nan'an District Committee and Secretary of the Party Working Committee of Chongqing Economic and Technological Development Zone at a press conference on July 16.

Nan'an District, located in the core area of Chongqing, spans 263 square kilometers and has a permanent population of 1.2 million. The district is known for producing Chongqing’s first mint, the nation's first Type 46 Jeep, and the world’s first industrial Internet of Things chip.

Urban Landscape of Chongqing's Nan'an District. (Photo/Nan'an District Media Center)

Regarding industrial layout, Xu said that the district aims to achieve incremental growth by increasing stock and supporting existing enterprise resources. 

For instance, the district has introduced policies to upgrade existing enterprises, supporting companies like Chongqing Midea General Refrigeration Equipment Co., Ltd. and Taiji Group Chongqing Tongjunge Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., and is co-constructing an optoelectronic industrial park with China Electronics Technology Group Corporation.

Xu added that significant investments are planned in new sectors to develop three trillion-yuan industries—intelligent terminals, software information, and healthcare—and two 500 billion-yuan industries—energy conservation, environmental protection, and automotive electronics. Nan'an District is also co-constructing a LiDAR industrial park with Hesai Technology to establish a key supply chain base for automotive-grade LiDAR.

"We are seeking incremental growth through technology," Xu emphasized, adding that further growth will be realized through support for technological research. The district is building innovation platforms like Guangyang Bay Laboratory and the University Science Park to accelerate scientific achievements and develop future industries, including brain-like intelligence, humanoid robots, and digital energy.

The Chongqing Economic Development Zone aims to achieve an average annual GDP growth of about 10% by 2027, with industrial output per acre reaching 15 million yuan, elevating it to a leading national-level development zone.

Chongqing Institute for Brain and Intelligence. (Photo/Nan'an District Media Center)

Xu emphasized the importance of basic research, mentioning the establishment of the Chongqing Institute for Brain and Intelligence. The institute excels in "understanding, rehabilitating, controlling, and simulating the brain" with world-leading research achievements such as the ultrafast two-photon microscope.

Xu also mentioned that the district plans to establish ten new intelligent factories, 20 green factories, and 60 digital workshops in the next three years. The construction of a new quality productivity incubation base is speeding up, with the University Science Park already housing over 400 enterprises in a 100,000-square-meter space. The park aims to nurture thousands of tech-based enterprises in the future.