May 22, 2007 -- Wuhan, capital city of central China's Hubei Province, plan to build a state-class equipment manufacturing base with independent innovation capacity. The Plan on Development of Equipment Manufacturing Industry of Wuhan has recently passed examination and assessment by experts. According to the plan, the total output value of the base is expected to reach 230 billion yuan (US$30 billion) by 2010.

The base is designed to focus on production equipment for transportation, electronics and information, complete equipment and basic equipment, with a focus on the development of nine industrial groups including auto and automotive parts, ship-building and such parts, locomotive, optical communications and mobile communications equipment, electric equipment, numerical control machine tool, environmental protection equipment, and metallurgical equipment.

The base will help support the two pillar industries of Wuhan, namely the automotive and machine-building industry, and the electronic and information industry. Currently, Wuhan has built three equipment manufacturing bases. They are: Donghu Development Zone - Jiangxia Equipment Manufacturing Centre, which focuses on power equipment, locomotive, ship building and ship parts, and laser industry. Wuhang Development zone - Caidian Equipment Manufacturing Centre, which focuses on auto and auto parts, and numerical control machine tool. Qingshan - Yangluo Equipment Manufacturing Centre, which focuses on the construction of the Qingshan National Environmental Protection Industry Base.

Source: Asia Pulse
Source: Factiva