The management committee of Zhanjiang Economic and Technological Development Zone (ZETDZ) and Air Liquide (China) Holding Co Ltd signed an investment agreement on Aug 18 to conduct in-depth cooperation in the centralized supply of industrial gases and resource optimization.

Jiang Jianjun, mayor of Zhanjiang, and Nicolas Poirot, chief executive officer of Air Liquide (China) Holding Co Ltd, attended the signing ceremony.

Air Liquide, founded in 1902, is a French multinational company which can provide advanced gas production facilities, efficient operation services and environmentally-friendly gas utilization solutions.

It is planning an industrial gas project in the Zhanjiang Donghai Island Petrochemical Park, with a total investment of more than 2 billion yuan ($288.96 million).

Jiang, on behalf of the CPC Zhanjiang Municipal Committee and the municipal government, sent warm congratulations on the successful signing of the investment agreement.

Air Liquide, as a world leader in gases, technologies, and services for industry and healthcare, is of great significance to Zhanjiang's industrial layout and urban development, said Jiang.

He also expressed his hopes that Air Liquide can build more industrial and R&D bases in Zhanjiang to attract more high-caliber enterprises and talents to the city.

Poirot said that Air Liquide attaches great importance to the economic development of Zhanjiang and has full confidence in the business environment and urban development of Zhanjiang.

The company will provide optimized concentrated gas supplies and technical services for the Donghai Island Petrochemical Park, helping build Donghai Island into an international top-ranking petrochemical base, added Poirot.

In addition, Air Liquide will strengthen cooperation with Zhanjiang in the fields of medical treatment, the environment, and clean transportation, assisting in the city's urban construction and high-quality development, according to Poirot.