Beihai is accelerating the development of advanced industries like electronic information, petrochemicals and new materials to make further inroads into the global economy, local officials say.

Many renowned IT companies have established facilities in the city, including the world's largest desktop CD-ROM maker Iteon Technology Corp, global LCD monitor manufacturer Admiral Overseas Corporation, and flashcard intellectual property developer Netac Technology Co.

As a result, the city's electronic information industry generated more than 50 billion yuan ($8.03 billion) last year, "an explosive growth" over 2011, local media reported. The figure is projected to surpass 100 billion yuan in 2015.

Last year, the industrial output of the petrochemicals sector grew to 30.13 billion yuan, more than 10 times the level in 2011. With 100 billion in industrial output value projected in 2015, Beihai aims to become a key petrochemicals center in the Beibu Gulf Economic Zone.

At the same time, a new materials industrial park with a planned total area of 6.5 square kilometers is now under construction.

The park is focused on Chengde Group's projects and will introduce more downstream industries, such as kitchenware, home decoration and medical devices.

The group company's initial project, with a designed annual 600,000-ton new material output, realized 7.47 billion yuan when it was put into operation in 2011.

The second stage of the project, which began operation in 2012, enabled the production capacity to reach 1.6 million tons and helped the company generate 15.1 billion yuan in revenues.

This year, Chengde Group has initiated a 1.2-million-ton cold-rolled steel sheet project, which will cost a total of more than 8.73 billion yuan and is expected to realize 50 billion yuan in annual output value.

Among China's first group of cities to be opened economically, Beihai has distinct advantages in exchanges with ASEAN economies because of its location along the southern coast.

The city, already a key port on the "Silk Road of the Sea" some 2,000 years ago, has continually enhanced industrial development and international cooperation through such actions as a three-year industrial and cultural initiative launched in 2010.

The establishment of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area and the development of the Beibu Gulf Economic Zone, which has become a national strategic priority, have given Beihai tremendous growth opportunities, the city officials said.

Su Bujuan contributed to the story.

huangfeifei@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 03/05/2013 page15)