Rugao in Nantong, Jiangsu province saw a significant economic boost in 2023, with a projected annual GDP of 156 billion yuan ($21.8 billion), reflecting a robust 6-percent growth year-on-year.

The industrial sector in Rugao remained stable, with a strategic focus on emerging industries, which contributed 45.4 percent to the total industrial output in the first three quarters of last year.

The first national-level corporate technology center in Rugao. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

To ensure continued competitiveness, Rugao enterprises stepped up research and development while implementing intelligent and digitalized production initiatives. 2023 saw a remarkable increase in the number of new high-tech enterprises, which reached 172, with high-tech industries contributing 56.4 percent to the industrial output.

In the first 10 months of 2023, Rugao's total foreign trade volume reached 25.04 billion yuan, with imports and exports valued at 6.62 billion yuan and 18.42 billion yuan, respectively.

Addressing employment concerns, Rugao added over 14,000 new urban jobs in 2023, including jobs for more than 5,000 recent graduates. The per capita disposable income for urban and rural residents in Rugao increased 5.2 percent and 6.9 percent, respectively, compared to the previous year.

Residents exercise at a public park in Rugao. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

As a global longevity hotspot, Rugao sought to tackle aging-related challenges proactively by adding four new elderly care facilities and 381 additional beds in 2023.