Riding the Strong Momentum of Attracting Major and Strong Enterprises, Fuzhou Sets Sail to Brave the Waves
Fuzhou Signed 15 Projects with a Total Investment Exceeding RMB 58 Billion and Secured “Dual Firsts” in Succession in Fujian Province
The thriving of the rivers and seas enables the prosperity of Fuzhou. In 1994, Comrade Xi Jinping, then Secretary of the CPC Fuzhou Municipal Committee, proposed the visionary “Maritime Fuzhou” strategy, making Fuzhou the first coastal city in the country to launch an initiative for “advancing its maritime ambitions”.
This farsighted and ambitious blueprint has nurtured a platform for continuous innovation and brought broad opportunities for pragmatic collaboration. For years, Fuzhou has steadfastly followed the direction set by General Secretary Xi Jinping, resolutely advancing its maritime ambitions.
On November 15, the World Maritime Equipment Conference 2024 opened in Fuzhou. Leveraging this world-class platform, various investment promotion departments in Fuzhou adhered to the principles of “comprehensive, full-cycle, full-chain, and all-inclusive participation”, and strove to write a new chapter in the construction of “Maritime Fuzhou”.
At the Fujian Provincial Marine Economic Industry Cooperation, Innovation and Development Conference held on the same day, Fuzhou secured agreements for 88 projects totaling over RMB 110 billion in investment. Of these, 15 projects, with a total investment of more than RMB 58 billion, were included in the province’s centralized signing event, ranking first in both project count and total investment for the second consecutive year.
Signing Ceremony for Major Projects of Fuzhou Reporter: Chi Yuan / Photography
Attracting Major and Strong Enterprises, Advancing Maritime Ambitions
Spanning an expansive sea area of approximately 11,000 square kilometers and boasting a winding 963-kilometer-long coastline, Fuzhou has long served as a vital gateway of the ancient Maritime Silk Road, a role that endures with renewed vigor today......Fuzhou’s connection with the ocean traces back to ancient times.
How to craft a new maritime chapter within the rich historical narrative of “Maritime Fuzhou” is a fundamental question that Fuzhou must address in its pursuit of high-quality development in the new era.
Strong investment promotion attracts good projects, and thriving projects drive industrial growth. With the support of the World Maritime Equipment Conference 2024, a world-class platform, Fuzhou’s investment promotion departments at all levels have continuously innovated their approaches, intensified efforts, and enhanced services. This has led to a steady flow of major and high-quality projects, igniting a new engine for the construction of “Maritime Fuzhou”.
At the Fujian Province Marine Economic Industry Cooperation, Innovation and Development Conference, Fuzhou signed 15 major projects, including the HSCC Global R&D Center and New Materials Integrated Industrial Park Project, Nantong Digital Intelligent Economy Industrial Park Project, Fuzhou (Fuxing) Offshore Engineering Digital Equipment Industrial Park Project, Fujian Lanliang Seahorse Biotechnology R&D Center Project, and Fuzhou International Yacht Port Project.
“Guided by the development of new quality productive forces, this round of agreements covers a wide range of marine economy industries, including offshore engineering equipment and shipbuilding, port-related industries, marine pharmaceuticals and bioproducts, marine ranching, and marine information technology. The total investment exceeds RMB 58 billion, with both the quantity and quality of projects surpassing those of the previous event, once again achieving ‘double first’ in the Province,” said a spokesperson from the Fuzhou Investment Promotion Office.
Confidence Abounds in Unlocking the Deep Blue Economy
“From the broad prospects of industrial development to the strength of policy support and the quality of investment promotion services, we are filled with confidence about developing in Fuzhou.” At the event, “confidence” emerged as a common keyword among business representatives.
“With the support of provincial and municipal government departments and various policies, we have grown into the world’s largest producer of caprolactam, overcoming several critical technological bottlenecks.” For Pan Debiao, Vice President of Highsun Holding Group (hereinafter referred to as HSCC), the company’s leap from a “family workshop” producing nylon ropes to a modern industrial group integrating fiber, chemicals, and new materials, confidence stems from this leapfrog growth.
On November 15, HSCC once again embarked on a “two-way journey” with Fuzhou. The HSCC Global R&D Center and New Materials Integrated Industrial Park Project will be located in the Shenyuan Integrated Industrial Park of the Kemen Economic Development Zone in Lianjiang County. The project includes the construction of HSCC global R&D center, a wetland eco-park, and a national-level pilot plant test base, with a focus on expanding and enhancing caprolactam production, developing and manufacturing rare catalysts, and advancing textile recycling. It also extends into high-end fine chemicals and new materials with production lines for polyamide new materials, silicon- and fluorine-based materials, and ketone-based new materials.
“Last year, we not only found many partners through the conference, but also felt the strong sincerity of Fuzhou in attracting investment,” said Chen Chao’en, Chairman of Fuzhou Haien Marine Development Co., Ltd., who attended the World Maritime Equipment Conference again. He added that the company had decided to make Fuzhou the new starting point for expanding its business.
“Fuzhou not only has abundant marine resources but also boasts outstanding river and lake advantages. Its calm and beautiful waters are ideal for developing leisure vessels, unmanned yachts, and other new cultural and tourism industries,” said Chen Chao’en. He further shared that the company plans to develop the Fuzhou International Yacht Port project in Taijiang District, creating a new model for water-based cultural tourism.
Fuzhou continues to sail forward with non-stop investment attraction
The Min River is vast. How can we better ensure the smooth delivery of all projects and achieve early advancement, early construction, and early production, so that small streams can flow into the sea? In Fuzhou’s marine chapter, each signed project represents both an opportunity and a challenge.
“We are currently coordinating with the National Marine Hazard Mitigation Service under the Ministry of Natural Resources and the provincial and municipal oceanic and fishery bureaus to establish a Marine Climate Change Response Laboratory, which is expected to be completed and put into use by the end of the year,” said a representative from the Fuzhou Municipal People’s Government. The Southeast Blue Carbon Monitoring and Evaluation Research Center, which was established last year in Gulou District, is making new progress. Once operational, it will provide more support for the development of the marine economy, marine disaster prevention, and the construction of marine ecological civilization in Fuzhou and Fujian.
“This is the world’s largest offshore wind turbine with the highest individual capacity and the longest blade diameter, representing the latest achievement in China’s wind power equipment industry and its rapid technological progress across the entire supply chain.” Last month, the world’s largest 26-megawatt offshore wind turbine was completed in Fuqing, marking the first 100% domestically produced offshore wind turbine components, and truly enabling full control of the industrial and supply chains.
The fast-promoted project construction and the abundant achievements of enterprises reflect Fuzhou’s exceptional results in attracting high-quality investments, which provide new momentum for high-quality development.
Looking ahead to Fuzhou, industries such as marine fisheries, port-related industries, and emerging marine sectors are strong “blue engines.” In 2023, Fuzhou’s marine GDP reached 325 billion yuan, ranking third in the country.
“In the future, we will continue to promote more major marine economic projects and quality projects to settle in Fuzhou, accelerate the development of a national marine economic demonstration zone, and strive to build a higher-level ‘Maritime Fuzhou,’” said a relevant official from the municipal investment office. (Reporters: Wu Huazhen / Text, Chi Yuan / Photography)
