Jimei learns lessons of past to advance business future

The Jimei district of the coastal city of Xiamen, well known for its long educational history, is pressing ahead with a new economic development plan that focuses on high-tech and innovation.

During a meeting on July 31, the district government proposed that Jimei should hone its educational and cultural edge to promote a more appealing and international business environment.

Jimei ethos

A trailblazing event in China's educational history was the 1913 establishment of the Jimei Study Village by famous overseas Chinese businessman and philanthropist Tan Kah Kee, also known as Chen Jiageng. The village offers comprehensive education from kindergarten through primary, middle and high school, and on to university or vocational schools.

The district is now home to a range of China's renowned institutions of higher learning and scientific research, including the Institute of Urban Environment of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Jimei University, the Xiamen campus of Huaqiao University and Xiamen University of Technology. Together, graduates from these institutions provide a strong talent pool for local economic development.

Its traditional advantage in education is bringing the district an increasingly important and visible position in the city's development blueprint.

Abundant education resources lend Jimei a profound cultural vibe. The spirit of businessman and philanthropist Chen, including his traits of sincerity, tenacity, diligence and innovation, has also become the ethos of the district.

In the past five years, the district has been building a "new city", a residential and business cluster, along its scenic Xinglin Bay landscape. According to the local government, construction of most of the public facilities is completed.

Located at the center of Xiamen city, Jimei New City has excellent schools and a range of cultural facilities. A bicycle lane along Xinglin Bay has just been opened for residents to enjoy the natural environment at a slow pace.

New economic path

Jimei is pressing ahead with industrial restructuring to improve its business environment. While continuing to promote its four backbone industries - software and information services, mechanical equipment, logistics, and culture and entertainment - the local government has stepped up efforts to support industries such as new materials, sanitary ware, textiles and tourism. The government also calls for the integrated development of all industries, specifically integrating the high-tech industry with equipment and other manufacturing sectors.

A major event on Jimei's path of industrial restructuring was the launch of a research and development center for robotics and numerical control on July 28. The center aims to promote an "intelligent workshop" across the district. The term intelligent workshop refers to the use of robots and other intelligent solutions to solve the key problems of the manufacturing industry.

The center is located within Xiamen Lota Group, the city's leading manufacturer of high-quality faucets, plumbing fittings and decorative hardware. ABB Group, the global automation facility and service provider, and Xiamen Siert Robotics System, offer technology support.

Xiamen Siert, founded in 2004, has produced more than 3,000 pieces of automation equipment in the past decade. It is now a leading player in the industry in China and its products are used in many companies.

The Jimei government released an announcement in May offering subsidies to businesses in the district that adopt intelligent systems.

According to the local government, most of the industries in the district rely largely on manual labor. Thus "using robots to replace people" would help Jimei upgrade industrially.

By 2020, the district is expected to generate 140 billion yuan ($22 billion) in industrial production and service value, of which more than 72 percent of the industrial production volume is expected to come from the high-tech industry, according to official data.

The third phase of Xiamen Software Park is located in Jimei district. By the end of June, 415 companies had received approval to register in the park.

The Xiamen Video Games Innovation Center, a project jointly developed by the Jimei government, Microsoft and Beijing Chukong Technologies, opened in Jimei on May 15.

It is the first major project supported by the Jimei Industrial Foundation. The foundation, set up and run by the government, aims to offer investment to major industries in the district.

Established in February, the foundation is the first such governmental industrial foundation in the city.

The Video Games Innovation Center aims to promote the mobile phone games industry in Jimei.

The center is designed to attract games development companies, technology service providers and talented personnel to the Jimei software park.

Government data indicates the center will incubate more than 90 mobile phone games businesses in the next three years, generating about 2 billion yuan in revenue and creating about 10,000 jobs.

Jimei is home to a range of innovation centers that serve as incubators to support startups and find new economic engines. These incubation projects also work with academic and research institutions, as well as industrial parks across the country.

Jimei offers not only investment through the foundation for innovative startups, but also "mentorship". The district invites well-known entrepreneurs, investors and experts to give lectures and conduct training programs in the district.

Li Huiyue, Party chief of Jimei, said the cultural and educational edge of the district is a major part of its charm and appeal to investors.

To further develop the "soft edge" of Jimei while continuing to explore new ways to fuel the economy is the right track for Jimei to take to flourish in the future, he said.

zhuanti@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 09/07/2015 page16)