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Pingtan sees stable economic growth

( chinadaily.com.cn )

Updated: 2014-08-08

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The Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone's (PCPZ) economic development kept its momentum during the first half of 2014, according to government officials at a July 31 work conference.

Agriculture and fishery production developed steadily. Industrial production rallied and increased its efficiency. The financing industry progressed, with all of the area's 15 financial institutions reporting good performance.

The real estate market has also been stable. Local tax and state tax revenue rose. Urban and rural residents both witnessed a double-digit increase in income. And more than 3,000 entities (enterprises and small individual business), 105 of which are operated by Taiwanese, were established in the first six months.

Pingtan also made big strides in infrastructure construction. Major engineering projects such as the Haixia Auxiliary Bridge, Sea Island Research Center, Taiwan Commodity Market and the Fuzhou-Pingtan Railway have all either been completed or finished major portions of their construction.

But problems still exist, including a low operation rate, insufficient investment, poor land-acquisition efforts, inadequate preparation before operations, a lack of confidence and subpar service.

"Those problems have, to some extent, affected Pingtan's economic and social development," said Li Dejin, director of PCPZ's administrative committee.

Pingtan will focus on a "five breakthroughs" strategy for economic development in the second half of the year, he added.

First is engineering project construction, as authorities will simplify approval processes, speed up construction and streamline land acquisition.

Second will be to expand business investment channels and recruit more professionals, thus increasing the region's chance of landing important investment projects.

Pingtan will deepen its economic reform, optimize the resources of different districts and accelerate the regrouping of its state-owned enterprises.

Pingtan will strive to step up cooperation and communication with Taiwan, which will include creating more convenient customs clearance processes, promoting the Taiwan Commodity Market, speeding up construction of the Taiwan Business Incubator and the Jinjing Bay port, opening a freight-shipping flight to Taiwan, enhancing cross-Straits financial cooperation and building a community for Taiwanese in Pingtan.

Last but not least, Pingtan will proceed with its affordable housing project, integrate urban and rural resources, create a healthier environment, simplify traffic and improve work performance in education, medical treatment and hukou (permanent residency permit) reform.