A file photo of a construction site of a steel production plant in Haimen district, Nantong. [Photo/ntfabu.com]

Haimen district in Nantong was ranked first among districts and counties in the city in terms of industrial project construction in the first half of this year, local media outlets reported.

The district signed 45 projects with a combined investment of 130.73 billion yuan ($20.17 billion) since the beginning of this year, according to Gao Yu, a senior official at the district's project promotion office.

Construction on four projects has been completed and seven projects have reached full production capacity this year, both ranking first in Nantong.

In addition, two headquarters project deals were signed this year. Haimen is currently home to four of the five headquarters projects in Nantong. 

During the first half of this year, Haimen hosted more than 10 investment promotion events in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and southern Jiangsu province.

The district has also accelerated the administrative approval procedures to boost project construction, with the average time cut from 50 days to 20 days.

The Haidi New Material plant took only five days to start construction after it obtained permission for land use.