With annual output value increased by 7.7 percent in 2021, aviation support industry was positioned as a pillar industry for consolidating Hezhou New Area's development by Hezhou's preparatory group during a Feb 8 work meeting.

Four Hezhou-based companies in the sector, namely MTU Maintenance Zhuhai, Zhuhai Xiangyi Aviation Technology, AVIC International, and Interfast AVIC Aerospace, achieved an eye-catching performance in 2021 with their total operating revenue climbing up 7.8 percent to 8.01 billion yuan ($1.27 billion) despite the pressure of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Aiming to support the safe and sustainable development of the sector, a subsidy of more than 35 million yuan ($6 million) went to MTU Maintenance Zhuhai and Zhuhai Xiangyi Aviation Technology last year for increasing investment, production expansion, technology upgrade, and R&D. Preferential policies were also available for major construction projects such as rewarding taxation and subsidized loans.

Trainers work on a plane engine during a maintenance workshop at MTU Maintenance Zhuhai [Photo by Luo Xuying / Zhuhai Daily]

Jaap Beijer, president and CEO of MTU Maintenance Zhuhai, showed great confidence in the company's core competitiveness. The company is casting its eyes on the domestic markets and has just signed a five-year maintenance contract with Sichuan Airlines for V2500 and CFM56-5B plane engines last year. According to Beijer, MTU will optimize its maintenance capacity for the latest aircraft models in 2022 and upgrade its testing level.

Zhuhai Xiangyi Aviation Technology, Asia's largest training base, now runs 30 flight simulators. It has provided simulation training for over 7,000 trainees and more than 1,000 theoretical training sessions. General manager Zhou Yizhi announced that the company is enhancing its applied research of flying and training data to expand the business scope to overall aviation security management and is expected to make more technical breakthroughs in the industrial chain of training equipment.

Hezhou New Area encompasses Hezhou Island, the Hongwan-Free Trade Zone-Shizimen Central Business District, and Wanshan Archipelago and Hengqin Island sea areas, according to a government proposal released in December 2021.

Its GDP increased 3.8 percent up to 14.43 billion yuan ($2.29 billion) last year, the value added by industrial enterprises above designated size grew by 7.8 percent, and the district's actual use of direct foreign investment surged by 121.6 percent, ranking first in Zhuhai in terms of the growth rate.

Hezhou is now working on formulating political measures to boost high-quality development of local real economy, according to officials of its preparatory group.