The Baotou Rare Earth High-tech Industrial Development Zone carried out a raft of investment promotions last year and 176 projects were signed, with a total investment of 110.46 billion yuan ($17.36 billion).

The zone – located in Baotou city in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region – contacted 661 enterprises, scientific research institutes, associations and chambers of commerce since last year.

In the event, it signed contracts with 34 leading enterprises, including four Fortune 500 companies such as CHN Energy GD Power Development Co. It also inked contracts with 15 China top 500 companies such as Shanghai Electric, with three top private companies like International Far East Leasing Co and with a dozen leading manufacturers, including Qingdao CCS Electric Co.

The contracted projects involved more than 10 industry categories – including the rare earths industry, the vehicle and parts manufacturing sector, as well as the hydrogen energy industry, cultural tourism sector and finance industry.

At present, the zone is constantly seeking to improve its industrial competitiveness and is forming a top industry cluster system supported by basic sectors and fostered by strategic emerging industries.

In order to ensure the construction of the projects as soon as possible, the zone is optimizing its approval process and is strengthening the management of business licenses related to the enterprises. It is providing free mailing of certificates and free stamps services for newly established businesses, saving more than 470,000 yuan in costs for them.

In addition, the zone has established the first public government affairs facility in Baotou city.

This integrates five functional areas – government affairs public consultations, government affairs  self-services, services consultations, information disclosure applications and efficiency supervision – to achieve the integration of open government affairs and government services.