Shanxi province will implement nine major measures in 2023 to develop itself into a hub for advanced manufacturing and digital economy innovation in Central China. 

The measures include the cultivation of key industrial chains, the construction of professional towns, industrial transformation and upgrading, the improvement of enterprise innovation capabilities, and green development. 

The province plans to build and strengthen 10 key industrial chains, including special steel materials and new energy automobile chains. It will also incubate copper-based new materials, new energy storage batteries, and information technology innovation application chains.

The Shanxi Department of Industry and Information Technology will pre-allocate 50 million yuan ($7.41 million) in special funds to each of the 10 provincial-level professional towns. It will also recognize five new provincial-level professional towns, as well as develop and recognize 20 municipal-level professional towns. 

According to the department, Shanxi has achieved a year-on-year growth of 8 percent in industrial added value of enterprises above designated size – those with annual revenue of 20 million yuan or more – in 2022, ranking fourth in China and first in Central China.