Foshan has made more efforts to develop targeted investment attraction based on its industrial foundation and supporting facilities. [Photo provided to China Daily]

All eight cities on the west bank of the Pearl River are scheduled to participate

The fifth Exposition for Investment and Trade of Advanced Equipment Manufacturing on the West Bank of the Pearl River, also known as the fifth AEME, will take place from Friday to Sunday at the Tanzhou International Convention and Exhibition Center in Foshan, Guangdong province.

This year's event is marking improvements in intelligence, environmental conservation and services compared to last year. Many exhibitions will make their debut at the expo, and the total exhibition area will be around 30,000 square meters, according to organizers.

As of August 30, 143 companies from all eight cities along the west bank of the Pearl River-Zhuhai, Foshan, Shaoguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, Yangjiang, Zhaoqing and Yunfu-had confirmed to take part in the exhibition.

They will showcase 272 items representing their latest major achievements in the advanced equipment manufacturing industry.

Among them, 52 companies from Foshan will demonstrate a total of 97 items, which will be divided into three sectors: machine tools and key technological equipment, intelligent equipment and robots, and new energy (hydrogen) and cars.

One group, Foshan Henglitai Machinery, will bring to the event its latest smart pressing machine for extra-large ceramic boards, which broke the previous monopoly held by foreign companies in China.

Foshan Nanhai Foton Motor will exhibit hydrogen fuel cell bus, and Guangshun New Energy Technology will display its core hydrogen-power components.

Zhang Qingyun, an official with the Foshan bureau of industry and information technology, said:"The 2019 AEME will serve as an important platform to present the project construction, cultivation of leading companies and industrial achievements in boosting advanced equipment manufacturing in cities along the west bank of the Pearl River."

Other activities will include an industrial cooperation forum, an intellectual property forum and investment and financing promotion events.

During the three-day show, about 208 projects are expected to be signed between companies and the eight cities, with investments totaling 129.94 billion yuan ($18.37 billion). Foshan alone has 64 projects with a total investment of 57.33 billion yuan, including 21 individual projects involving an investment of more than 1 billion yuan each, according to event organizers.

By hosting the AEME, Foshan has enhanced its leading role in building advanced equipment manufacturing industrial clusters on the west bank of the Pearl River, local officials said.

An intelligent robot is displayed at the fourth Exposition for Investment and Trade of Advanced Equipment Manufacturing on the West Bank of the Pearl River in Foshan last year. [Photo provided to China Daily]

The city in recent years has continuously optimized its environment for industrial development.

It has further lowered the cost of manufacturing companies to better support the real economy and also encourages companies to apply for national, provincial and municipal subsidies and other means of financial support.

Foshan has made more efforts to develop targeted investment attraction based on its industrial foundation and supporting facilities.

It has increased the number of middle-and high-end projects.

Government leaders at all levels in the city are responsible for organizing and coordinating the introduction of major industrial projects, and for timely problem-solving during the process.

Adhering to the problem-oriented principle, the city government aims to shorten the period from project construction to production.

Moreover, the city has constructed a batch of provincial and national innovation centers in fields of intelligent equipment, new energy vehicles and chips.

It also encourages large and leading companies to set up key labs, corporate technological centers and other innovation platforms, in a bid to promote the industrialization of scientific results.

From 2016 to 2018, Foshan marked an average annual growth rate of 10.5 percent in its equipment manufacturing industry.

Last year, the added value of the industry totaled 142.6 billion yuan, accounting for 31 percent of the city's total.

This year, the added value of the city's equipment manufacturing industry reached more than 75.7 billion yuan from January to July, an increase of 7.9 percent year-on-year.

Officials said Foshan will continue to follow the action plan released by the Department of Industry and Information Technology on boosting advanced equipment manufacturing in the eight cities from 2018 to 2020, and will make efforts to build an industrial base in the sector with world influence and international competitiveness.