Lianyungang, famous for its abundant seafood, also offers potential investors great opportunities.
The lianyungang Economic and Technical Development Zone, the state-level zone approved in 1984, was designed to become the city's key area to house investment projects, said Hu Guangping, director of the zone's information office.
In 2003, the zone accounted for 13 percent of the city's gross domestic product and 44 percent of its industrial output.
As of last year, altogether 616 foreign-invested enterprises had settled in the zone, investing in total US$1.72 billion.
With its favored policy, the zone, with a history of 20 years, has expanded from 0.65 square kilometers to its current 12 square kilometers.
The advantages for the zone are distinct: There is a three-dimensional traffic network of sea, railway, road and aviation, offering convenient logistics for the zone's enterprises.
Six sectors - food, pharmacy, textiles, machinery, fine chemistry and electronic technology - are the zone's pillar industries.
Two pharmaceutical enterprises, Hengrui Group and Kanion Pharmaceutical Co Ltd, have successfully listed on the stock market.
Following the idea of "one zone with various sub-zones," it currently owns two state-level sub-zones - the national Export Processing Zone and the national New Pharmaceutical Base - and several specialized zones, including the provincial High-tech Industrial Development Zone, Dapu Industrial Zone and the Non-governmental Business park.
Of these sub-zones, the export processing zone was designed to cover an area of 3 square kilometers, divided into an east and west part.
The 0.7-square-kilometer east part is equipped with modern standard workshops and mature supporting facilities. This makes it an ideal investment location for processing trade enterprises. The west part is still under planning.
The export processing zone is a special economic area under an enclosed administration by the customs house. It has improved the traditional supervision mode of the processing trade, simplified the current administration procedures and adopted a 24-hour transit service.
The zone had been designed as one that connects with the international market and operates under international practice.
Ecological concerns are also a prime focus. The developing area has been designed with a strong emphasis place on harmony with nature.