Weihai aims high in marine economy

The marine economy in Weihai, Shandong province is expected to generate 160 billion yuan ($25.1 billion) by 2025 with an annual growth rate of more than 10 percent and account for more than 40 percent of the city's GDP, Weihai authorities said at a recent news conference.

Xing Haiwen, director of the marine development bureau, said that Weihai will continue to boost advantageous marine industries, emerging industries and modern service industries as well as cultivate new growth drivers in the marine sector, build a modern marine industrial chain and supply chain, and create distinctive marine industrial clusters.

Efforts will be highlighted to accelerate the transformation of marine fisheries, promote the clustering of the marine biological industry, advance the transition of the marine manufacturing industry, propel the pilot work of the marine ecological economy, as well as enhance the marine service industry.

Marine fisheries, marine food, shipbuilding and marine engineering are the dominant marine industries in Weihai.

In the coming years, Weihai will expand marine fisheries, and build three systems for modern seed industry development, green development of mariculture, and organized development of deep-sea fishing. The city aims to build 140 modern multi-functional breeding platforms by 2025, generating an output value of more than 10 billion yuan in far-ocean fisheries.

The city will also strengthen the comprehensive and high-value development and utilization of marine aquatic products, and build the largest intensive marine products processing and logistics base in China.

According to official statistics, Weihai is home to 296 sea-related science and technology innovation platforms, 191 sea-related high-tech enterprises, and 263 sea-related science and technology small and medium-size enterprises.

Six industries composed of marine electronic information and intelligent equipment, marine medicine and biological products, marine new energy and new materials, and seawater desalination and comprehensive utilization have become the emerging marine industries in Weihai.