Government to encourage investment drive in Western Guangdong

Guangdong’s government say that the western cities of the province could become new centers for heavy, chemical and manufacturing industries, the South China Morning Post reported. Provincial party secretary Wang Yang said that cities such as Zhanjiang, Yunfu, Yangjiang and Maoming – which have a combined population of around 15 million – were lagging behing the Pearl River Delta, and needed to attract more international investment. Jin Xinyi, secretary general of the Shenzhen Chamber of Commerce, said that Zhanjiang had one of the best harbors in the country and would be a perfect location for iron, steel and petrochemical plants. The biggest obstacle facing the region, he said, was a lack of infrastructure such as roads, railways and airports.