The first project to be launched in the Manzhouli area of the China (Inner Mongolia) Free Trade Zone (Inner Mongolia FTZ) broke ground on May 30, marking a major step in the region's development as a gateway to China's northern neighbors.

The project includes the construction of the Manzhouli inland port grain, edible oil, and fertilizer facility, and is invested and developed by the Inner Mongolia International Trade Group. It has a total investment of 1.03 billion yuan ($152.2 million) and is expected to be fully completed and operational in the first half of 2028.

Upon completion, the fertilizer section will be capable of handling 800,000 metric tons of imported potassium chloride annually, processing 400,000 tons of granular potash fertilizer and providing a storage capacity of 150,000 tons.

The grain and oil section will be able to handle 900,000 tons of imported Russian feed grain, coarse grain, and crude vegetable oil each year, with storage capacity reaching 80,000 tons.

The project is a key initiative supporting Inner Mongolia's role as an important gateway between China and its northern neighbors. It is expected to help diversify grain imports, strengthen food security, and deepen economic and trade cooperation between China and Russia.

It is also the first large-scale northbound investment project launched by a State-owned enterprise in the Inner Mongolia FTZ since its establishment, as well as the first major industrial project to commence construction in the Manzhouli area.