Employees work at a factory in Rudong county, Nantong, Jiangsu province. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

The Rudong Economic Development Zone, the first provincial-level development zone in Rudong county, Nantong, Jiangsu province, achieved a gross domestic product of 10 billion yuan ($1.38 billion) in 2023. Despite occupying only about 2 percent of Rudong's land area, the zone contributed 7.2 percent of the county's regional GDP.

The three leading industries—intelligent equipment manufacturing, electronic information, and health and safety—have all made significant strides. The zone is now home to over 190 industrial enterprises above the designated scale.

To date, the zone has attracted nearly 10 Fortune Global 500 companies and over 20 projects from publicly listed companies. It has attracted foreign investment from more than 10 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Austria, France, and Singapore, with cumulative investment totaling nearly $2 billion.

The zone has been making efforts to develop industries such as construction machinery, oil wellhead equipment, and wind power equipment. It now hosts nearly 30 enterprises specializing in intelligent equipment manufacturing.

The electronic information industry is also on the rise, with the total output value reaching 15 billion yuan in 2023.

The first phase of the Life and Health Industrial Park in the zone focuses on innovative drugs, high-end medical devices, and biological products. It has already attracted nearly 50 companies, including Ractigen Therapeutics and Macro & Micro Test. The safety industry, focusing on high-end personal protective equipment, has gathered industry leaders such as Hanvo and Jonnyma New Materials.