The NETDA launches a working meeting on Jan 24, which aims to discuss strategies for the development zone in terms of integrating into the YRD. [Photo/WeChat account: gh_78ba52d6e1ed]

The working meeting of the Nantong Economic & Technological Development Area – located in Nantong city in East China's Jiangsu province – on Jan 24 unveiled major and ambitious plans for the current year, including exploring further ways for the NETDA to integrate with the nearby Yangtze River Delta region.

The YRD is the triangle-shaped megalopolis generally comprising the areas of Shanghai city, southern Jiangsu province and northern Zhejiang province in East China.

The NETDA's main economic and social development target this year is to increase the zone's gross domestic product by 10 percent and the general public budget revenue by 6 percent, according to reports in the local media.

In addition, taxable sales from industry is expected to increase by 15 percent in the current year, with taxable sales in the service sector projected to rise 20 percent and fixed asset investment seen advancing 15 percent, of which industrial investment will increase by 30 percent.

Meanwhile, imports and exports are envisaged to gain more than 6 percent, with the zone's management committing to further improvements to the environment.

Zhang Jianhua, secretary of the NETDA's Party working committee, said that by the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-20), the district's GDP had reached 74.34 billion yuan ($11.5 billion), with an average annual growth rate of 9.3 percent and its per capita GDP at 247,000 yuan.

The general public budget revenue last year was 5.9 billion yuan, with an annual growth rate of 6 percent and a tax rate of 90.9 percent, retaining top place in Nantong. The total value of imports and exports reached 44.2 billion yuan, ranking it second in the city.

In the comprehensive assessment and evaluation of the 219 national economic and technological development zones, it ranked among the top 30 last year.

Zhang said that the NETDA set out the main tasks of building up industry, creating innovation highlands and opening benchmark demonstration windows.

Moreover, the zone wants to pave the way for city modernization, the internationalization of dominant industries, coupled with development integration – as well to examine options to forge closer links with the Yangtze River Delta region.