The Sea Port Economy Program was put forward first to present the Implementation Plan for Development of the Modern Service Industry Plan in Guangzhou (hereinafter referred to as "The Plan") and was unveiled by the Development and Reform Commission of the Guangzhou Municipality on May 26th.
According to the Plan, an airport economic zone is to emerge in northern Guangzhou which, taking advantage of the Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport protocol, is expected to develop into an industrial zone as well as a logistics base serving the Pearl River Delta, South China or even Southeast Asia. Meanwhile, western Guangzhou, eastern Guangzhou and downtown Guangzhou will each play their role in the development of business and trade, science and technology as well as production…and, respectively, the development of the central business districts.
In terms of the plan, the former "port-related economic zone" plan was renamed as "the seaport economic zone" which, on be basis of the Nansha deep-water seaport development plan is to be developed into the largest seaport economic zone in South China and as one of the three major domestic hubs of international logistics services. As a result, seaports, airports and highways will make a modern logistics service network comparable to none.
In terms of the Outline of Planning for Functional Zones of Modern Services in Guangzhou (hereinafter referred to as The Outline), the seaport economic zone covers Nansha Port as well as the surrounding areas. With the deep-water coastal lines and adjacent waterways, it creates a perfect environment for an international logistics services base focusing on container shipments as well as bonded logistics, export processing as well as warehousing and delivery. Priority will be given to construction of an international logistics hub composed of a comprehensive international logistics base sited on Longxue Island, a warehousing base to be established in Xiaohu and a motor logistics base on Shazai Island.
Additionally, to a "seaport economic zone", there will be seven functional zones serving three important niches, with the core niche focusing on the CBD in downtown Guangzhou and one aimed at the trade and business sector in western Guangzhou. Too, there will be the secondary niche focusing on trade and tourism in southern Guangzhou, science and technology in the northeast of Guangzhou, production and services in east Guangzhou as well as innovation and cultural services in southeast Guangzhou. Too, the tertiary niche focusing on the airport economic zone in north Guangzhou and the seaport economic zone in Nansha completes the plan. The three niches will give rise to a comprehensive outline of modern service industries in Guangzhou in the 21st century.
According to the Plan, a modern industrial system will come into being with service industries as the core. The tertiary industry is expected to embrace a more rapid growth than the GDP and the secondary industries. By 2015, the net value generated by the tertiary industries to be developed will be 65% of the areas' GDP. Guangzhou will become an international hub attracting service industries, promote a total restructuring in the Pearl River Delta and turning the area into China's model city in terms of the development of modern service industries. By 2020, the tertiary industry sector will conribute about 70% of the areas GDP and Guangzhou will turn into a modern service center with an international competitive edge.
