Following a year of steady economic growth, Hai'an, a county-level city in Nantong, Jiangsu province, recently outlined its economic development targets for 2024.

The goals include 6-percent growth in the regional gross domestic product (GDP), with 6.2 percent within reach. It also aims to achieve a general public budget revenue of 7.4 billion yuan ($1.03 billion).

In addition, it seeks to bring the growth in per capita disposable income in line with overall economic growth, along with creating over 6,000 new urban jobs.

To realize these goals, Hai'an plans to propel industrial modernization by focusing on key industrial clusters and chains. Emphasizing the development of modern industries through the research and development of new technology and extending industrial chains, it aims to move towards the high end of the value chain, revitalizing existing industries.

Accelerating the growth of emerging industries, particularly in strategic sectors like new-generation information technology and new materials, Hai'an will actively invest, encourage innovation, and expand its market presence to consolidate its industrial strengths.

Additionally, Hai'an recognizes the significance of the digital economy as a crucial support for high-quality development and modernization. The city is actively promoting the in-depth integration of digital technology across various fields, including the economy, society, and industrial development.

In the realm of agricultural digitization, Hai'an is leveraging the establishment of a national modern agricultural industrial park to explore the creation of an agricultural and rural big data platform. This initiative aims to facilitate the in-depth integration of digital technology with areas such as farming, animal husbandry, and agricultural product processing.

In the sphere of manufacturing digitization, Hai'an will provide specialized guidance to businesses, assisting them in exploring suitable paths for digital transformation.