Progress to Economic & Technological Zone
The building of Beijing's Economic and Technological Development Zone is progressing rapidly.
By the end of April, 15.6 km of roading and 127 km of conduits and lines had been completed. The training centre, dormitories and buildings for several joint ventures, as well as water, electricity and communications facilities have also been completed.
The zone covers 30 square km, of which half belongs to the first stage. The Beijing government has invested US$70.2m in the first stage. The zone is close to the Beijing-Tianjin-Tanggu expressway, and already has a container transit station. Other facilities, such as a bonded warehouse, will be set up to meet the demands of an export-oriented economy.
Hi-tech at Badachu
The, Beijing Badachu Hi-tech Park held a conference recently in Beijing where participants were able to see the facilities available.
According to reports, the event was attended by more than 100 representatives from Beijing-based domestic and overseas companies. The launch of the park is
art of the capital's efforts to promote Foreign investment to compete with fast developing areas such as Guangdong province and Shanghai.
The park covers an area of 79.58 hectares and is situated at the foot of the western hills in Shijingshan District, 16 km to the west of the city. 48 production enterprises and corporations, including companies from the US, UK, Japan, and Hong Kong have invested there since its official opening in October last year, and according to reports, US$20.9 million of registered capital has been committed to the site.
According to the park's senior officials, export-oriented Sino-foreign joint ventures and solely foreign-funded projects will constitute the majority of its development.
Work starts on first telecom park
China's first industrial park to produce telecommunications equipment has begun construction in the private economic development zone in Beijing's Huirou County.
The 40-hectare Beijing Telecommunication Park, the largest telecommunication project in the capital, is to be completed within three to five years, involving a 1 billion yuan investment.
The park, located 20 kilometres away from the Beijing's Capital Airport, is developed by Beijing Vantone Industrial Company Ltd which is to invest in US$25.8 million this year in infrastructure projects for the park.
Feng Len, chairman of the Hainan Vantone Group, told the China Daily that the park would house a research development centre, processing and manufacturing centre, telecommunication information centre, as well as a financial centre.
Huairou innovation park gets underway
The construction of the Beijing Innovation Industrial Park, in Huairou County outside the city has begun.
A total of US$250m is to be injected into the project by the Singapore-based Trans Century Development Corp and the Beijing-based Fengxiang Development Corp. A total of US$50m has been invested in the first stage of construction, which is due to be completed in six to nine months. The industrial park and the supporting Innovation Commercial Park and the Innovation Apartments & Bungalows cover 65 hectares, of which factory workshops make up 77,000 square metres.
The products of the overseas enterprises that are entering the development zone will be free of duties in the first five years of operation.
Liangxiang park boasts easy access
Liangxiang Industrial Development Area in suburban Beijing is attracting both foreign and local investors, because of its "easy access and cheap land prices." The park, located 20km south-west of Beijing, covers a total area of 2.41 square km.
The Beijing-Shijiazhuang expressway and Beijing-Tianjin-Tanggu expressway run through the north of the area, while the Beijing-Baoding highway and the Beijing-Guangzhou railway intersect it in the east. About 3km north of the development area stands a navy airport, which will be turned into a military-and-civilian-purpose airport.
The land is to be transferred to investors at a price ranging from US$60 to US$86 per square metre. Investors can use the land for up to 50 years.
New centre to ease cargo transport
Construction of a huge exchange centre for international commodities has begun in Beijing to make full use of the Beijing-Tianjin-Tanggu Expressway and other transport facilities.
The exchange centre will occupy 73 hectares and is expected to begin operation by 1995. It will be located at the golden triangle of south-eastern suburban Beijing, near the starting point of the expressway, the fourth ring road and the Jingqin electrified railway.
The centre, whose cost has been estimated at US$49m, is intended to improve the management of freight transport, improve efficiency by streamlining road transportation, and ease the shortage of storehouses. It is regarded as a potential way to link railway and expressway transportation with shipping businesses.
Beijing customs authorities are to set up offices at the international commodity exchange centre to improve the investment environment for the eastern and southern parts of the capital, which has approved more than 5,000 overseas-funded enterprises so far.
Customs officials regard the centre as an ideal place to centralise management of export and import commodities, reported the China Daily. Both importers and exporters will complete declaration, taxation, and inspection procedures at one time at the centre's customs office. Trial operations will begin later this year with simplified customs routines. The commodities exchange will also offer services for storage, transport, trade, vehicle parking, auto repair, finance, telecommunications and advertising. *