Chongqing - The value added of Chongqing's private sector has increased from 1.48 trillion yuan to 1.98 trillion yuan ($278 billion) during China's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021–2025), with its share of GDP rising from 59% to 61.6%, according to a September 18 press conference. 

The number of private market entities has expanded from 2.9 million to 3.67 million, now accounting for 97.8% of all registered businesses, as Chongqing's private sector plays an important role in the city's overall economic landscape.

Shi Chonggang, deputy director of the Chongqing United Front Work Department, highlighted the performance of local firms. Seven companies, including automaker SERES, were named the "2025 Top 500 Chinese Private Enterprises." Bosai Minerals was listed among the Top 500 Manufacturing Enterprises, while Longfor Group ranked in the Top 100 Service Enterprises.

A SERES AITO pop-up store in Yubei District, Chongqing. (Photo/Zheng Ran)

Officials reported breakthroughs in advanced manufacturing and healthcare. SERES's AITO M9 SUV held the top sales spot in China's luxury segment above 500,000 yuan for nine consecutive months. Chongqing Aureavia Hi-tech Glass developed nano-microcrystalline glass for Huawei devices and the C919 passenger jet, while Zhifei Biological's tuberculosis test kit received WHO endorsement.

By 2024, Chongqing had 69,500 private technology firms and 8,042 high-tech enterprises, accounting for more than 90% of the city's total. Zonsen Group, Pharscin Pharma, and Hilan Pharmaceutical established national-level technology centers, while Changyuan Chemical and the Neutron Science Research Institute opened academician workstations.

Chongqing's private firms have become central to its "33618" manufacturing clusters. Eighteen companies, including SERES and Shineray Autos, were recognized as industry leaders. Jiulongpo District developed a light-alloy materials cluster exceeding 100 billion yuan. Alnera Aluminium supplies 40% of BYD's battery housings, and Laibao Technology advances ultra-thin glass processing for global laptop brands.

Private companies are accelerating digital transformation under the "industrial brains + future factories" model. SERES, Loncin Motor, and others introduced 22 AI-driven applications, such as automated visual inspection. The city now has six future factories, 24 intelligent factories, and 112 digital workshops, reducing average operating costs by 22.7% and boosting productivity by 57.6%.

Green development is also advancing. Chongqing hosts 170 national green factories and 16 green industrial parks. Bosai Group's Jiulong plant adopted Bayer process technology, cutting energy use by 60% and reducing annual CO₂ emissions by 830,000 tons. Chongqing Rural Commercial Bank issued more than 5 billion yuan in green loans to support sustainable manufacturing.