Inner Mongolia Alshaa Economic Development Zone began construction in July 1997 and was approved as a municipality-level development zone by the region’s government in January 2002. Its name was approved by the National Development and Reform Commission in March 2006. 

The economic zone has a planning area of 175 square kilometers and a construction area of 3050 sq km. There are more than 30,000 people in the zone from 15 ethnic groups including Han, Mongolian and Hui.

Since the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015), it has formed an industrial chain covering the salt chemical industry, coal chemical industry, fine chemical industry, new energy and recycling industry.

A total of 236 key construction projects have been completed in the zone and 134 of them are key industrial projects. It completed a total investment of 34 billion yuan ($5.14 billion), which is twice the number of the 11th Five-Year Plan (2006-2010). It has successfully fostered one star enterprise with revenue of over 10 billion yuan and two State-level high-tech enterprises.

In 2015, the import and export trade volume reached $732 million. A total of 55 projects were signed and 33 projects were completed.