Twenty-four enterprises from Huzhou, East China's Zhejiang province made a total of 25 outbound investments worth $260 million in the first half of this year, official data from the Huzhou municipal bureau of commerce showed.

The investment amount accounted for 95.4 percent of the city's target set by the Huzhou government for this year and represented a year-on-year increase of 94.77 percent, both ranking second in Zhejiang.

Its investment destinations covered 13 countries and regions worldwide, including the United States, Australia, Germany, Cyprus and Morocco.

Countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative have emerged as magnets for investment from Huzhou.

From January to June, the city invested $160 million in 18 projects in the BRI countries, with the combined value accounting for 65.22 percent of the city's total.

Among Huzhou's investments overseas during the period, 12 saw investment exceeding $5 million, seven surpassing $10 million, and four topping $30 million.

The manufacturing sector is still the most preferred sector for the city's overseas investment, along with emerging industries like ecological protection and environmental governance, popularization and application of science and technology, as well as biotechnology research and experimentation.