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Casing City of China is an industrial park located in Rugao Economic and Technological Development Zone, Nantong. [Photo/ntfabu.com]

The casing industry in Rugao Economic and Technological Development Zone in Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province has experienced notable development, bringing great benefits to the zone's economy and its residents.

As many as 197 companies in the industry have generated 5.5 billion yuan ($843.08 million) in output last year, said Gu Yongjun, general director of Casing City of China, an industrial park located in the development zone.

Innovation has played a vital role in the industry's development, Gu added. Local casing companies have ramped up efforts to improve production technology and cooperated with top institutes including Fudan University in Shanghai on scientific research.

A novel method used to extract heparin sodium from small intestines that were discarded as waste in the past has made great profits, Gu said. Every 1,500 pieces of small intestines can produce one kilogram of heparin sodium, which is worth 60,000 yuan.

In addition, as the casing industry is labor intensive, it can create many jobs and bring more income to local residents, said Gu. More than 10,000 employees work at the industrial park and over 80 percent of them used to be local farmers or were laid-off workers.

 "I can make 8,000 yuan a month working here. When I was a farmer, I could only make no more than 4,000 yuan a year," said Gao Zhongjing, a worker at the industrial park.

In 2020, Rugao's casing production and exports accounted for over 80 percent of China's total. Its products have been shipped to more than 20 countries, such as the United States and Japan, generating $105 million in revenue.