Anhui promotes coordinated development of FTZs in Yangtze River Delta

Anhui has taken a slew of measures to promote the coordinated development of free trade zones (FTZs) in the Yangtze River Delta region, local authorities said.

The eastern Chinese province took part in forming a think-tank alliance for the FTZs in the region with the aim of sharing resources, information and achievements, the Department of Commerce of Anhui Province said.

The High-Tech zone in the Hefei FTZ in Anhui and the High-Tech zone in the Hangzhou FTZ in Zhejiang entered into strategic partnership.

The province held a project promotion meeting, seeking investment from the Yangtze River Delta Entrepreneurs Union. As a result, 20 contracts worth a total of 30.13 billion yuan (US$4.63 billion) were signed.

In addition, the province strengthened cooperation with Shanghai Port as a direct route from Wuhu to Shanghai was launched. Wuhu Port handled 135 million tonnes of cargo in 2020, up 5.9 percent from a year earlier. It also injected 800 million yuan into an offshore industry incubator in Shanghai.

The State Council, China's Cabinet, released plans for the new pilot zones in Beijing and in Hunan and Anhui provinces last year, bringing the number of the country's FTZs to 21.