Copyright 2024 - Ningbo Life / Ningbo Expat

Recovery of foreign trade in March

Owing to the European debt crisis, the foreign trade of Ningbo in the first quarter of this year saw a low growth. According to the updated statistics from Ningbo Customs, in the first three months, the total of import and export of Ningbo City is $22.285 billion, increased by 1.9% over the same period of last year, and recovered from the general decline in the previous two months. Of the total, the export reaches $13.303 billion, increased by 4.8%; the import 8.982 billion , dropped by 21.% over the same period of last year.

In the first quarter of this year, The export to EU countries reaches 3.599 billion US dollars, reduced by 23.% against the same period in the previous year. Of the total, the export of solar energy cell, ship, LED panel and clothes dropped by over $300 million. The export to USA grows by 14.4%%. In the same period, The export to Latin American countries, the ASEAN countries and the Brics rises respectively by 7.6%, 24.2% and 10.2%. This shows that Ningbo has made considerable progress in the exploration of the emerging markets.

It is noted that in March the export increased by 10.9% on the year-on-year base, 2 points higher than the average growth rate of the country. According to Ningbo Statistical Survey Team of the State Statistics Bureau, in March, the export of ordered products of the manufacturing industry started to rise on the monthly base. According to an interview of 47 purchasing managers of manufacturers, orders for export increased by 29.8%, 16.5 points above the same period of previous month. In the first quarter of this year, the output value of exports of large industrial enterprises rose by 3.2 points above the previous months.

However, in the situation of the decline of the growth rate of the principal economic bodies and the decline of the external demand, the situation in the second quarter this year might not be satisfactory. Related person from Ningbo Trade Bureau says, it is estimated that the general situation of import and export of Ningbo might be "stable with low growth".

Throughput of containers of Port of Ningbo increased by 10.2%

In the first quarter of this year, the throughput of cargo handled by the Port of Ningbo reaches 105,340,000 tons, 4.7% more than the same period in the previous year. The containers handled amount to 3.7 million TEUs, increased by 10.2% over the precious year. For the growth rate the port ranks the first of the top four in mainland China.

Early this year, many international shipping companies started to adjust shipping lines of Europe and Asia. In this situation, the Port of Ningbo strengthened its cooperation with shipping companies and adjusted and optimized its shipping lines. In the first quarter of this year, the port opened new 8 container lines, increasing the total to 225. It handled 345,000 TEUs, increased by 16.5% above the same period of the previous year. In the meanwhile, Port of Ningbo further expanded the container transferring business with middle shipping companies and as a result, the port handled 371,000 TEUs for international transfer, increased by 15.2% above the same period of the previous year.

With the fall of price for ore on the international market, many ships loaded with ore came to the port. In face of this situation, Port of Ningbo increased its uploading efficiency and river and train transport. In the first quarter this year, the volume of ore unloaded amounts to 16,627,000 tons, up by 8.4%. Port of Ningbo took measures to organizing supplies of coal for power plants, especially the coal from the Changjiang River and the Lanxi River logistic enterprises. In the first quarter this year, the volume of coal unloaded amounts to 7,773,000 tons, increased by 10.3% above the same period of the previous year.

Six industrial platforms attracting investors

On the morning of April 15, environment investment promotion banquet was held in Cixi. Six industrial platforms, namely, eastern Cixi coastal zone, emerging industries park, commodity market park, logistics park, Heming scenery zone and Hangzhou Bay modern agriculture development zone were introduced to the participants.
Members of Ningbo-Hong Kong Association, Cixi-native entrepreneurs from Hong Kong, Macao and overseas, Ningbo-native entrepreneurs from Taiwan and other representatives were present at the promotion. The entrepreneurs were ready to invest in their home place and make their contribution. Plans for many projects have been worked out and will be started soon.
"We miss our hometown very much. We want to make investments here." said Mr Cen Chongping, president of Shenzhen-Cixi Merchants Association and CEO of Surlink Group. He founded the association in 2005.

Cixi Industrial Bank issuing loans to small and micro enterprises

The other day, a financing service meeting opened Landison Plaza Hotel Cixi. At the meeting, by means of joint mortgage and joint loan, 7 small and micro enterprises got credit extension loans totaling 77 million yuan by the Industrial Bank. The loans are urgently needed by the enterprises. 4 other small and micro enterprises expected to have loans.

To help small and micro enterprises overcome the difficulty in financing, the Cixi Branch of the Industrial Bank made positive response to the call of the government and started to implement programs to help middle and small enterprises offering them services of joint mortgage and loan and a batch of financing services like credit extension loans to small and micro enterprises. This year, The bank has granted loans to over 60 small and micro enterprises massive. By the end of March, the loans Cixi Branch of Industrial Bank gave to small businesses account for 47.9% of the total loans it issued

150 investment projects prompted at Ningbo Merchants Conference

An investment project promotion was held at the first Ningbo Merchants Conference on the afternoon of April 14, aiming to attract Ningbo-native entrepreneurs to make investments in their home place. Liu Qi, mayor of Ningbo, Cen Guorong, party secretary of the Provincial Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese attended the meeting; vice mayor Chen Yi-jun recounted the projects and the related policies. More than 400 Ningbo businessmen from home and abroad were present at the meeting.
The meeting introduced the blueprint for Ningbo’s social and economic development, introduced the new "2+3" development platforms, namely, two major provincial industrial clusters: Hangzhou Bay and Meishan, and three major platforms: Ningbo Sanmen Bay, Xiangshan Harbor and eastern Cixi coast which are under planning and oriented to medium and long-term development. The fundamentals, overall planning and key investment fields of these platforms were highlighted by the presenter

The meeting promoted 150 key investment projects that boast mature conditions and good prospects, to be involving an aggregated investment of 220 billion yuan. These projects have been compiled into a pamphlet and sent to all the participants. At the meeting, an overview of these projects has been introduced according to different fields such as the industry transformation and upgrading, strategic emerging industries, modern agriculture, infrastructure and social well-being.

To encourage more Ningbo merchants to promote the construction of Ningbo as a modern international port city, the municipal party committee and municipal government issued guidelines on supporting innovation and entrepreneurship of Zhejiang businesses to promote Ningbo’s development”. Major policies of economic development have been complied and sent to all the participants. Policies in increasing support for industrial development, scientific and technological personnel, land and financial security, headquarters economy, efficient administrative services and social environment for start-ups have also been introduced.

“The new strategy, new platforms, new projects and new policies for Ningbo’s economic and social development show broad space and good environment for investment in Ningbo." said the participants. They would also compare and consider these projects seriously and select appropriate ones to promote the construction of Ningbo.

A signing ceremony of investment projects was held in the first World Ningbo Merchants Conference on the morning of April 14. 20 projects, with an estimated investment volume of 28.2 billion yuan were signed at the meeting. Except for a 100 million technology research institute project, the rest investments have exceeded 500 million yuan each, and 8 of the portfolio are more than 1 billion yuan. The largest project investment amounts to 10.5 billion yuan.

It is said that these investment projects involve a wide range of industries such as new energy, new materials, electric machinery, chemical engineering, health care, trade, investment and financing. There are 12 manufacturing projects with an estimated investment volume of 18.3 billion yuan, most of which are high-tech and strategic emerging industries such as the Yuyao’s introduction of concentrating solar power chip project, which is more advanced, more efficient, and costs less than the polysilicon solar power. There are 8 service projects with a total investment of 9.9 billion yuan, including a number of urban complexes, commerce, investment and financing projects. For instance, the introduction of 3-billion-yuan City Square for comfortable home project in Yinzhou District will create a business cluster with numerous fashion and business pioneers.

These projects show Ningbo merchants' sincere heart to repay their hometown and promote the development of Ningbo. Hongkong Kinox Co. Ltd, founded by Mr Sun Qilie who is from Ninghai, signed a contract with the Ninghai County People's Government. 600 million yuan will be invested to build Hong Kong City Fashion Square in the downtown. It's ready to introduce well-known recreation, dining, entertainment brands and excellent business management teams from Hong Kong to create an influential fashion square in east China. Shenzhen Huarong Financial Holdings Limited, founded by the Schumann sisters who are from Fenghua, signed with Fenghua Yuelin Street to build a financial modern complex with commercial buildings, hotels, entertainment, financial incubators and SME headquarters with a total investment of 800 million yuan. Shanghai Roncent Communication Technology Co., Ltd., with Mr Cen Wanrong as its chairman who is from Cixi, signed a contract with the management committee of Cixi emerging industry cluster with a total investment of 600 million yuan in TFT LCD (a liquid crystal display) ultra-thin technology and cutting irrigation crystal in Cixi, which will turn out an annual sales of 3 billion yuan when in production

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