Investment in the automotive and auto parts manufacturing cluster is also on the rise, Su said.

In October 2017, China Automotive Technology and Research Center, a State-owned industry leader, started construction on its South China headquarters in Zengcheng. One month later, Hitachi Automotive Electric Motor Systems, a joint venture between Hitachi and Honda specializing in the manufacturing and research of motors for new-energy vehicles, set up its first overseas branch in the district.

These two new projects, with contractual investments of 1.85 billion yuan and 3 billion yuan, respectively, added glamor to the existing strong auto and auto parts manufacturing industry in the district. The area has built a complete supply chain composed of two vehicle manufacturing plants and at least 150 auto parts and research companies.

With a good natural environment, Zengcheng is an ideal place to live.[Wu Guming/for China Daily]

"Guangzhou is a well-established vehicle manufacturing center of China. In addition, the new energy auto market has high potential," said Namatame Haruo, president of Hitachi Automotive Electric Motor Systems (Guangzhou) Ltd. "Our parent company Hitachi Automotive System has invested in Zengcheng and set up good connections with the district. That's why we are here," he told reporters. Diversified interest

Apart from the two industrial clusters, the district has also placed emphasis on attracting companies in the sectors of modern services, regional headquarters, artificial intelligence, biomedicine, new energy, and new materials, big data, modern agriculture and eco-tourism, said Su of the district's commerce department.

For example, Zengcheng introduced 16 regional headquarters projects in 2017, ranging from the low-carbon industry and financial technology to innovation services.

Total investment in the district is projected to reach about 22 billion yuan, surging 742 percent year-on-year, according to government figures.

"Our economy has much room to develop and growth will be substantial in the coming years,"said executive deputy chief Zhao. He said the district's development plan is designed to create an eastern gateway for Guangzhou to connect to the surrounding cities in the Pearl River Delta, such as Shenzhen, Dongguan and Huizhou."Located at the center of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and as a key stop along the Guangzhou-Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Corridor, Zengcheng is at its prime development stage and clearly a good choice for investment,"Zhao said.

Workers assemble cars at a production line of BAIC Group in Zengcheng. [Wu Guming/for China Daily]