Wuxi district looks to develop modern industries

The Wuxi National Hi-tech District (WND) released its development plan for its modern industries during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25) on March 2.

Officials said that over the next five years, WND will work to develop a leading modern industrial system with international influence and featuring six advanced industries, two modern service industries, and various future industries with advanced technologies.

The six advanced industries will include internet of things (IoT) and digital, integrated circuits, biomedicine, intelligent equipment, auto parts, and new energy. The two modern service industries will include high-end software and digital creativity, and high-end commerce and airport services. Future industries such as artificial intelligence, hydrogen fuel cells, and third-generation semiconductors were mentioned in the plan as well.

According to the plan, in 2025, the scale of the IoT industry in WND is expected to grow by 10 percent year-on-year to 600 billion yuan ($92.8 billion), while the scale of the biomedicine industry in WND is expected to reach 135 billion yuan. The output value of the intelligent equipment industry in WND is expected to exceed 150 billion yuan.

WND will also work to develop a world-class integrated circuit industry cluster with an annual output value of 150 billion yuan by 2025.

In addition, the district plans to spend 38 billion yuan on an integrated circuit equipment and materials industrial park, which plans to bring in 200 industrial innovation teams and carry out 300 major industrial projects. It will be developed into a large-scale modern industrial community integrating R&D, manufacturing, and industrial services and is expected to have an annual industrial revenue of 80 billion yuan.

Hong Yanwei, deputy Party secretary of WND, said that during the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-20), WND's comprehensive economic strength has increased significantly, as its economy has maintained medium-to-high-speed growth.

According to Hong, WND's GDP reached 193 billion yuan in 2020, a nominal growth of 7.6 percent year-on-year from 2016.