Xiangzhou District, Zhuhai

China's leading appliances manufacturer - Zhuhai-based Gree Electric Appliances, hit near 30 percent overseas sales growth in the first quarter thanks in part to the Belt and Road Initiative.   

As a "going out" enterprise, Gree established an air conditioner manufacturing base in Brazil as far back as 2001, which helped reduce costs and raise productivity, and laying a solid foundation for the company's further expansion.

Now Gree's products sell well in more than 200 countries and regions and occupy about 30 percent of market share, thanks to good quality and innovative technology encouraged nationwide.

Containers are loaded and unloaded at Zhuhai Port. [Photo by Guan Mingrong/southcn.com]

More enterprises such as Zhuhai XH Smartcard and Huafa Group are joining Gree, making the city a popular investment destination for countries along the route.

Last year, Zhuhai built six enterprises to invest in those countries, agreeing on total investment volume of $50.9 million, up 83.9 percent on the previous year. The increases in export sales to ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and Belt and Road countries hit 9.1 percent and 16.7 percent, respectively.

To bring greater convenience for business exchanges and expansion, the Zhuhai government has ramped up investment in infrastructure and opened 63 routes from Zhuhai Port, domestically and overseas.

"In the future, we will continue to cooperate with major shipping companies like France's CMA CGM Group, to open more routes along the Maritime Silk Road," said Ou Huisheng, chairman of the board at Zhuhai Port Holdings Group.