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The Rugao Economic and Technological Development Zone is in Rugao, a county-level city in Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province. [Photo/WeChat account: RGETDZ]

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25), Rugao Economic and Technological Development Zone in Rugao, a county-level city in Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province, will intensify its efforts in industrial growth, further opening-up for foreign investment, and pursuing innovation, with the goal of leading China's development zones in high-quality development.

Rugao development zone plans to initiate at least 10 major programs, each worth 1 billion yuan ($154.57 million), in the sectors of smart equipment, automobile manufacturing, electronic information technology, hydrogen energy, and modern services.

It will work to push for progress on several programs, which are currently under discussion, as well as help Scania, a Swedish leading heavy truck manufacturer, and other brands start construction on projects in the first half of 2021.

The development zone also aims to attract more than 500 million yuan in foreign investment within three years. The local government will continue to optimize the zone's business environment, provide better administrative services, as well as make full use of international business conferences to achieve its objectives.

In addition, more favorable policies and financial support will be offered to encourage research and innovation in local enterprises. The zone will bolster efforts to build several national-level platforms and incubators to enhance its competitiveness in terms of innovation. It expects that 100 more high-tech companies will be set up in this zone within the next five years.

A series of solid steps will also be taken to upgrade the development zone's medical and educational infrastructure, as well as to beautify its environment to build an attractive place for people to live and work in.