Figure 1: A corner of Xiaochang County Town in Hubei Province (Image source: Xiaochang Media)

(By our reporters Dong Qingsen and Liu Jie) Projects signed are racing to be implemented; projects that have been implemented are racing to break ground; and projects that have broken ground are racing to deliver results. At Hubei Shuer Home Products Co., Ltd., located in Xiaochang County, Hubei Province, product manufacturing and factory construction are advancing in tandem: on one side, machinery and equipment operate smoothly and busily, while on the other, a forest of tower cranes stands tall as new factory buildings rise amid bustling construction activity.

“Taking into account factors such as overall capacity expansion needs, production costs, and the business environment in Xiaochang, we have decided to relocate all of Yiwu Shuer Household Products Co., Ltd.’s production lines to Xiaochang,” Peng Ping, General Manager of Hubei Shuer Household Products Co., Ltd., told reporters. The company primarily manufactures smart insulated cups, smart thermostats, and other household products.

“We have both online and offline sales channels, and our ‘Little Bear Cup’ has become a viral bestseller—a must-have water bottle that has sold over 2 million units and generated more than RMB 50 million in revenue,” said Peng Ping. In April 2022, the company established operations in Xiaochang, Hubei Province, and by the end of the same year had completed Phase I construction and successfully commenced production. Currently, Phase II projects—including the development of supporting infrastructure for the mold-making facility—are nearing completion and are set to be inspected and put into operation soon. From initial investment promotion discussions to site selection and construction, Xiaochang’s attentive and comprehensive services left a deep impression on her.

“Xiaochang County provided comprehensive support throughout the entire process of our company’s establishment, fully implementing all preferential policies and ensuring ‘zero obstacles’ in project construction, which enabled our enterprise to quickly commence production and achieve operational efficiency,” said Peng Ping.

A favorable business environment is itself a productive force; prioritizing the business environment means prioritizing development. In recent years, Xiaochang County has steadfastly placed enterprise needs at the forefront, continuously implementing three major initiatives: reducing and consolidating cost reductions, establishing pilot zones for reform, and replicating and promoting best practices. With cost control as the core objective, the county has streamlined processes to efficiently complete key tasks in a single step, providing “nanny-style” services from the on-site assessment of enterprise projects to their commissioning, thereby continually enhancing the sense of gain and satisfaction among market entities.

When it comes to the business environment, enterprises are in the best position to speak. “Comfortable” is the most frequent description given by the investors of Hubei Quanchengxin Precision Circuit Co., Ltd. regarding Xiaochang. The Quanchengxin project, with a total investment of RMB 1.2 billion, was established in Xiaochang County and is being developed by Shenzhen Weibu Information Co., Ltd. It will primarily manufacture high-precision multilayer printed circuit boards, which are used in a wide range of applications, including computers, automobiles, home appliances, and medical equipment.

“Since 2018, Shenzhen Quanchengxin has been actively seeking expansion sites across the country. We have engaged with numerous localities, but it is Xiaochang that has left the deepest impression on us—its local government has made us feel truly at ease,” said Huang Jianxin, Chairman of Shenzhen Weibu Information Co., Ltd.

The “peace of mind” enjoyed by enterprises is the result of the government’s dedicated efforts. By ensuring robust supply of land resources, stringent environmental compliance and emission controls, comprehensive project support, and high-quality services to facilitate early commissioning and performance, Xiaochang County has demonstrated genuine commitment and concrete action.

“The government invested more than RMB 30 million to build a dedicated substation for Quanchengxin, and over RMB 20 million was allocated to complete supporting infrastructure for the transportation network and low-voltage systems. In addition, the government promptly coordinated to resolve various challenges and issues arising during project implementation, thereby effectively ensuring the timely completion and commissioning of the project,” said Zhao Shengjia, Secretary of the Party Working Committee and Director of the Management Committee of the Xiaochang Economic Development Zone. He added that, centered on Quanchengxin, Xiaochang has actively attracted investment along the upstream and downstream value chains, working to strengthen, extend, and supplement the industrial chain to ensure the full-chain operation of the enterprise upon commissioning.

“Plant a banyan tree, and the phoenix will come.” Hubei Quanchengxin’s production base is set to build an Industry 4.0 smart factory, with its PCB manufacturing having evolved from initial single-layer boards to today’s 20-layer designs, thereby highlighting the company’s growing competitive edge in the PCB industry.

Commissioning does not mark the end of project services. Xiangchang County has proactively made comprehensive preparations and implemented concrete measures to grow alongside enterprises, which is precisely what has earned it a reputation for “peace of mind.”

Figure 2: Aerial view of the Haiyue Electric Factory Area

“The Haiyue Electric project, with an investment of RMB 500 million, took only 11 months from groundbreaking to commissioning,” said Luo Yunqiang, Party Secretary and Director of the Xiaochang County Bureau of Commerce. He added that the project required just one month—from initial negotiations and contract signing to the groundbreaking ceremony—demonstrating another successful example of Xiaochang’s efforts to deepen reforms of the project approval system for construction projects and accelerate the development of major industrial initiatives, thereby further enhancing the “Xiaochang Speed.”

Ningbo Haiyue Electrical Appliance Manufacturing Co., Ltd. is a national-level high-tech enterprise and also a Class-A tax-paying enterprise under the “Performance-Based Evaluation per Mu” initiative in Ningbo City. Zhang Leiming, Chairman of the company, stated: “The Xiaochang government boasts high efficiency and a warm, attentive service attitude; after conducting investment assessments, we ultimately chose to establish our operations in Xiaochang.”

“Respond to every call and refrain from unnecessary interference.” According to the principal officials of Xiaochang County, the county has integrated the guiding principle that “reasonable requests from enterprises are the very goals of government work; the healthy growth of enterprises is the foundation for Xiaochang’s sustainable development; and the confidence and vitality of entrepreneurs are the driving force behind Xiaochang’s development” into its business-service efforts, thereby providing high-quality services that give enterprises investing in Xiaochang peace of mind. Over the past three years, two reform initiatives aimed at optimizing the business environment in Xiaochang have been selected as national pilot projects, while 15 others have been designated as provincial pilot projects.