Guangdong has released plans for high-quality manufacturing led by Zhuhai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen as the mainstay for a complete semiconductor and IC industrial chain covering design, production, packaging, and closed beta testing.

By 2025, the new-generation electronic information sector is to generate 6.6 trillion yuan ($1.02 trillion) in revenue, with a world-class electronic information industry cluster taking shape, according to the Global Times.

In all, Zhuhai is to become the provincial core city for eight strategic industries in the 14th Five-Year Plan for High-Quality Development of Guangdong's Manufacturing Sector (2021-25), which was released July 30.

Four of the eight are pillar industries concerning new-generation electronic information, "smart" household appliances, software and information services, and biomedicine and health. The other four are major industries covering green petrochemicals, "smart" home appliances, automobiles, modern agriculture, and food. Furthermore, Zhuhai has four strategic emerging industries and is listed a general layout city for modern light-industry textiles.

As for the pillar industries, in terms of new-generation electronic information, Zhuhai will be part of a 1-trillion-yuan ($154-billion) 5G industrial cluster, and will innovate information technology applications influenced by Southern Software Park and Huawei New-Generation Information Technology Joint Innovation Center in the Zhuhai National Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone (Tangjiawan).

Zhuhai is considered vital to the development of air conditioners, washing machines, small household appliances, and other "smart" household appliances.

Xiangshan Marine Scientific & Technological Port in Tangjiawan [Photo courtesy Guanhai App]

In the software and information service sector, Zhuhai is to have a 100-billion-yuan ($15.42-billion) industrial scale in fundamental IC design and office software and accelerate industrial application software related to medical care, education, culture, transport, and finance.

In the biomedicine and health sector, Zhuhai will establish a new-type biopharmaceutical resource allocation center and Tangjiawan medical equipment R&D and production base and accelerate development of precision medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, and big health.

Moreover, the plan positions the city as the core of four strategic emerging industries: semiconductor and IC, high-end equipment manufacture, cutting-edge new materials, and precise instruments.

In the semiconductor and IC industry, Zhuhai will establish a chip design and software development aggregation zone with global competitiveness, develop third-generation semiconductor production lines, and expand the production of 8-inch silicon-based gallium nitride wafer wires and electronic components.

To propel development of cutting-edge new materials, Zhuhai will consolidate its advantage in electronic new materials and chemicals, and boost aggregated development of new-energy and biomedical materials.

The city will not only become an aggregated zone for the high-end marine equipment industry but will also pioneer the aviation industry with construction of a provincial innovation base and trial flight facilities, mass production of amphibious aircrafts, and further development of aero engine maintenance.

Guangdong will also support Zhuhai in establishing precision instrument and equipment production bases, and science and technology industrial parks.

Zhuhai's added value of high-tech and advanced manufacturing increased by 14.5 percent and 19.3 percent respectively in the first half of this year. Notably, output of upstream high-tech products such as IC wafer, industrial and service robots, and optical instruments recorded rises of 40 percent, 62.7 percent, 28.3 percent, and 266 percent respectively year-on-year.

The added value of the manufacturing sector is expected to account for more than 30 percent of Guangdong's regional Gross Domestic Product by 2025, and added value of high-tech manufacturing will account for 33 percent of that of industrial enterprises above designated size.