FAW-Volkswagen signed up to build its Foshan facility in 2010, helping make the city an auto industry hub in Guangdong.

Mayor: 3-year initiative has 'strategic importance'

Foshan made a good start last year on its three-year master plan to modernize the city's industrial chain by securing a large number of investment projects.

The latest statistics from the Foshan Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Bureau show that 23 key projects with total investment 33.12 billion yuan ($5.33 billion) began in the Pearl River Delta city last year that are expected to help build new industrial chains.

Some 168 other operations with combined investment of 95.7 billion yuan were started to support or consolidate the city's existing industries.

The city began implementing the three-year plan in 2012.

It outlines industrial chains with "strategic importance" including new-generation IT, new energy, biomedicines, flat-panel displays, automobiles, semiconductor lighting, and modern services, as well as traditional industries ranging from equipment manufacturing and household appliances to new materials.

Foshan Mayor Liu Yuelun said the plan lays the groundwork for growth areas that will help fuel the city's future development.

"We highlight these strategic industries in the plan because of their substantial development potential," he said.

"But that doesn't mean we will ignore well-developed traditional industries such as furniture and ceramics. The city government will continue to support these sectors as before."

Liu said he expects the new industrial chains to begin taking shape initially by 2015 and become the city's new pillar industries in a decade.

"Foshan plans to grow into a leading hub for manufacturing and modern services in Guangdong province with an economic volume estimated at 3 trillion yuan by 2015," said the mayor.

"To fulfill the goal we need a large number of investments into these strategic industries."

To attract investment, the city government of Foshan has required its various departments to coordinate to improve the quality and efficiency of services for investors, said Liu.

He noted that the city government can help investors gain access to bank loans more easily because of its close ties with local financial institutions.

"Investors can expect a better business environment in Foshan because we are implementing a massive plan to upgrade infrastructure. The city will have a new image by 2014," Liu said.

The local government is investing 112.2 billion yuan in 103 major new infrastructure projects that will upgrade aging downtown areas and public facilities.

The growing investment will give the city's major industrial zones - including the Foshan High-Tech Industrial Development Zone, Foshan New Town and Guangdong High-Tech Financial Service Zone - better facilities and increase their appeal to investors, said Liu.

"We also began a new human resources development plan in 2012 to seek high-caliber professionals worldwide and train local talent," the mayor said.

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The Midea Group (above) and AsiaAlum Group (below) are top companies in household appliances and building materials, traditional industries in Foshan.