The Central Hall of the Sixth Western China International Fair for Investment and Trade
The 6th Western China International Fair for Investment and Trade (referred to as WCIFIT) was held in Chongqing from May 23 to 26, 2024, highlighting the region’s continued and growing economic openness.
The 2024 theme was "New Western China, New Manufacturing, and New Services". It focused on promoting the deep integration of advanced manufacturing and modern service industries, and five major sub-themes activities: logistics services, innovative services, professional services, investment in western China, and global procurement.
Twelve special activities were planned and held, and the "WCIFIT Benefiting the City" consumption promotion activity is also held simultaneously to share the historical opportunities of the new era's West China Development with global merchants.
"New Ideas" and "New Paths"
Chongqing is becoming a comprehensive hub for inland opening up, with a focus on accelerating the building of an innovation led institutional open hub, a gateway transportation hub connecting the world, a comprehensive logistics hub integrating land and sea, a two-way open international economic and trade hub, an industrial and supply chain hub with internal and external linkage, a high-energy aggregation technology innovation achievement transformation hub, a green and efficient new energy computing hub, a high-end resource element allocation hub, and an open and diverse international communication hub. These nine key hubs provide new ideas and expand new paths for inland economic opening up.
Based in Western China and To the World
Tulcin Alexander, Chairman of the Executive Committee of Minsk Oblast, Belarus, and 39 provincial and state mayors from 25 countries, as well as 23 diplomatic officials from embassies and consulates in China, as well as leaders of foreign business associations and institutions, attended this year's WCIFIT. More than 10 provincial and ministerial leaders from China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, Sichuan Province, Guizhou Province, Xizang Autonomous Region, Gansu Province and Qinghai Province participated in relevant activities. Nearly 1,800 companies and institutions from 40 countries (regions), 27 provinces (regions, cities) in China, and the Hong Kong SAR participated in the fair. Among them, 66 large central state-owned companies, 67 Fortune 500 and multinational corporations, as well as well-known companies such as China Logistics Group, China National Inspection and Testing Holdings Group, and Nachi-Fujikoshi (China) Co., Ltd. participated in the fair for the first time.
Distinctive Features and Rich Connotations
This year's WCIFIT included 11 exhibition halls covering: comprehensive image, modern service industry, modern manufacturing industry, and international and regional cooperation. Over 50% of exhibitors came from outside Chongqing, as well as exhibitors from 40 countries and regions, including Poland, Russia, South Korea, Uruguay, Italy, and Israel, appeared in the international and regional cooperation exhibition area, demonstrating the "Belt and Road" international cooperation projects and achievements.
Holding the China (Chongqing) Cross border E-commerce Fair, gathering nearly 30 well-known domestic and foreign cross-border e-commerce platforms and service providers, showcasing tens of thousands of "cross-border goods". In the modern service industry exhibition area, 198 companies showcased new achievements, new formats, new scenarios, and new trends in the development of domestic and foreign productive service industries; In the modern manufacturing exhibition area, 347 companies showcased the latest technologies, products, and achievements of the new generation of electronic information manufacturing, advanced materials, and other industries. 129 high-quality new products made their debut, and scientific research achievements in China's aerospace field, such as space stations, satellites, and launch vehicles, were showcased in the exhibition area. More than 20 famous universities, more than 30 research and development institutions, and more than 50 technology enterprises collectively released a batch of technological and industrial innovation achievements.
Blossoming in Multi-fields and Fruitful Achievements
A total of 196 major investment projects were signed. These included projects in "new manufacturing", and the "33618" modern manufacturing cluster system has become the main battlefield for attracting "gold", with signed project amounts accounting for 63% of the total signed amount. 62 trillion CNY level leading industries, including intelligent connected new energy vehicles, next-generation electronic information manufacturing, and advanced materials, have signed contracts with a total amount of 110.6 billion CNY, accounting for half of the country's total in terms of quantity and amount; The building of digital Chongqing has become a new investment favourite, and 5 software information service projects with a total amount of 12.3 billion CNY have been signed. The cooperation between the central and local governments is also a highlight of this year's Western China International Fair, with a total of 15 signed cooperation projects and a contract amount of 34.9 billion CNY, including 13 projects worth over 1 billion CNY, involving multiple fields such as finance, advanced materials, and new energy.
Various Highlights of Foreign Investment
With the continuous optimization of marketization, rule of law, and international business environment, the western region has become a hot spot for foreign investment. A total of 12 foreign-funded projects were signed with a total amount of 26.7 billion CNY, involving 12 countries and regions such as Singapore, Germany, and Hong Kong, China. A number of high-quality foreign-funded projects, including the Waltor Power Methanol Reforming Hydrogen Fuel Reactor Project and the Yunji Capital Distributed New Energy Power Station Investment Headquarters, have been signed and landed.
196 Major Investment Projects Signed
New Manufacturing
The Contracted Project Amount for the "33618" Modern Manufacturing Cluster System Accounts for 63% of the Total Contracted Amount
62 Trillion CNY Level Leading Industries, Including Intelligent Connected New Energy Vehicles, Next-generation Electronic Information Manufacturing, and Advanced Materials, Contracts with a Total Amount of 110.6 Billion CNY Signed, Accounting for Half of the Country's Total in Terms of Quantity and Amount.
Foreign Investment
12 Foreign-funded Projects Signed
Amount of 26.7 Billion CNY Signed
4 Projects for Fortune 500 Companies
Involving 12 Countries and Regions including Singapore, Germany, and Hong Kong
Digital Chongqing Building
5 Software Information Service Projects Signed
The Contracted Amount is 12.3 Billion CNY
Central State-owned Companies Projects
15 Projects Signed
Signing Amount of 34.9 Billion CNY
13 Projects Worth Over 1 Billion CNY, Involving Finance, Advanced Materials, New Energy, and Other Fields
The 7th WCIFIT will be held from May 22 to 25, 2025, to continue promoting Chongqing’s innovation, intelligence, green, and openness.
Chinese Article and Photos Source: Chongqing Municipal Commerce Commission