South West China district becomes investment magnet

Huaxi district in Guiyang, Southwest China's Guizhou province was ranked among the country's top 100 districts with strong investment potential in 2018, according to a research finding recently released by the People's Daily. 

The finding was centered on the scientific development index for medium and small cities across China and Huaxi was listed, thanks to the district's constant efforts to develop its ecological and business environment.

In 2017, Huaxi secured 16.813 billion yuan ($2.41 billion) in investment, a year-on-year of 51.71 percent and it put 56 new projects into operation, taking itself to the top of Guiyang's investment attraction comprehensive index after a half-year examination.

Turn ecological resources into economic benefits

While carefully protecting and restoring its ecological system, Huaxi has pulled out all its stops to explore its tourism and industrial value, by developing mountainous and waterside sceneries, wetlands, idyllic parks, folk customs and ancient towns. 

The district has moved to fully integrate its agricultural, industrial and cultural resources.

Officials said it has launched tourist destinations that feature ecological tourism, leisure, sports, shopping and entertainment -- such as Qingyan special tourist town and Gaopo mountainous sports base. 

Meanwhile, Huaxi's considerate initiatives and services have gained positive comments from companies that have located there.

"The unique natural environment made us settle here," said a spokesperson with Guiyang-based Zhongdian Environmental Protection Co, which has been in Huaxi for more than two years. 

By end of 2017, Huaxi has seen its annual average air quality good rate hit 93.8 percent, centralized drinking water source quality at 100 percent; forest coverage of 48.38 percent; 85 parks completed and total tourism revenue reach 26.7 billion yuan ($3.81 billion). 

Innovative mechanisms attract more enterprises

"We have formulated targeted policies and measures to optimize the investment attraction procedures. Enterprises in the district only need to go to a certain website or government organ, to get all the services," said Guan Lu, deputy district mayor of Huaxi. 

To date, Huaxi's preferential policies have attracted a large number of enterprises, including industrial giants, such as Vanke, LinkedIn, Tencent and Midea. 

A couple of big data platforms have also been set up, providing the core of Brook Cloud Town, a big data cultural and tourism investment attraction platform developed along the Shili Hetan Wetland Park.

Optimize business environment to help enterprise development

To promote its all-for-one cultural and tourism strategy and attract more enterprises, Huaxi has put together a series of working plans and established a special leading group, providing comprehensive services for enterprises. 

"We have set up service centers for foreign funds utilization and investment attraction, providing a variety of services including consultancy, enterprise registration, establishment and environment evaluation," said a spokesperson with the district's investment and promotion bureau. 

"We are full of confidence in our future development in Huaxi and have been provided with considerate services by experts from the district agriculture bureau," said Zhou Zhangmao, a spokesperson with Xinan Qingyan Orchard, a project that located to Huaxi last year.