Hai'an, a county-level city in Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province, has in recent years been advancing the intelligent development, and digital transformation of local enterprises, local media reported.

To date, over 380 projects in Hai'an have completed intelligent development and digital transformation, ranking first in Nantong in terms of both quantity and progress.

In September, the city launched policies to financially support local enterprises involved in intelligent development and digital transformation, benefiting 180 enterprises in Hai'an.

The fund for enterprises in this respect is expected to reach 25 million yuan ($3.46 million) by the end of this year, which is expected to drive more than 200 enterprises to get involved in technological transformation, said Xu Jinlong, director of the municipal development and reform commission of Hai'an.

Hai'an has also established 826 5G base stations from January to September to strengthen industrial internet and boost the digital transformation of traditional manufacturing enterprises.

For example, Asia-Pacific Light Alloy (Nantong) Technology Co Ltd has integrated 5G technology with the industrial internet, achieving flat information communication and transparent production site.

"Digital transformation has improved production efficiency and inspection efficiency. Our frontline production staff has decreased by 35 percent, but production capacity has increased by 80 percent, and our overall automation rate has reached 95 percent," said Pu Jianying, general manager of the company.

Due to efforts in intelligent development and digital transformation, total industrial output value from January to August reached 137.77 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 14.7 percent.