The number of national high-tech enterprises in Shenzhen exceeded 17,000 by the end of last year, ranking No. 2 among large and medium-sized cities across the country, Shenzhen Economic Daily reported.

In 1979 when the city was just established, there were only 224 enterprises above State-designated scale.

These enterprises only covered 23 industries, and were mainly in traditional industries such as the food manufacturing industry, textile industry and wood-processing industry. Few were high-tech companies.

The city’s high-tech companies started thriving thanks to the city’s measures to support technological innovation systems.

There were more than 2,800 national high-tech enterprises in Shenzhen in 2012. The number increased to a total of 8,037 in 2016.

In 1980, the output value of traditional industries was 57.5 percent of the output value of the city’s enterprises above State-designated scale.

In the mid-1990s, the electronic communication equipment, electrical machinery, food-processing, metal products and garment industries became the city’s pillar industries.

Entering the 21st century, the city has seen a rapid development of industries including computer communication, electronic equipment manufacturing, general equipment manufacturing, automotive manufacturing and pharmaceutical manufacturing and has witnessed the growth of a group of key firms such as Huawei, BYD and DJI.

Huawei, founded in 1987, is now a leading global provider of information and communications technology infrastructure and smart devices. It ranked No. 61 in Fortune’s Global 500 last year.

BYD, established in 1995, has played a significant role in industries related to electronics, automobiles, new energy and rail transit through 20 years of growth.

DJI, set up in 2006, became a leading brand in the field of commercial drones.