Gaoyou: Resolve problems and solve difficulties to promote the transformation and development of the photovoltaic industry

Since the start of this year, the photovoltaic sector has faced increasingly tough international market conditions. Many companies have encountered operational challenges, leading to production halts and various disputes. In response to these pressing issues, Gaoyou City in Jiangsu Province has taken proactive measures. Local authorities have mobilized experienced business personnel to assist photovoltaic firms in resolving debt issues, streamlining operations, and addressing grievances. These efforts include organizing photovoltaic companies to participate in litigation investigations to better understand the total debts, assets, creditors, and repayment capabilities of relevant firms. Authorities are also closely monitoring potential risks like asset stripping or capital flight, ensuring adequate preparations are made to prevent losses and avoid any major incidents. From January to April this year, the Gaoyou Development Zone achieved impressive growth figures. The total industrial output reached 7.4 billion yuan, representing a year-on-year increase of 29.2%. Technical renovation investments amounted to 1.732 billion yuan, up 76.9%, while fixed asset investments hit 1.547 billion yuan, marking a 67.8% rise compared to the previous year. Such achievements highlight the "good momentum" in Gaoyou's economic performance. By the end of last year, Gaoyou had over 50 companies related to the photovoltaic industry, including 20 large-scale photovoltaic enterprises. Notable names like Shunda Semiconductor, Shunda Solar, Supreme Optoelectronics, and Walmart Solar are among the top 50 industries in the city. The output value of photovoltaic companies above a certain scale surged from 3.07 billion yuan in 2008 to 7.04 billion yuan in 2010, accounting for 68.3% of the city’s high-tech industrial output value. Gaoyou has thus become a significant production hub for China’s photovoltaic industry, drawing the interest of numerous local and external investors. Currently, there are 31 key photovoltaic projects either under construction or planned, with a total projected investment of 12.225 billion yuan, which will undoubtedly further boost the development of the photovoltaic industry in the region. This year, the Gaoyou Economic Development Zone has prioritized fostering new industries, upgrading leading sectors, transforming traditional industries, and defining its unique industrial identity. The “three chains, one village, two parks” initiative embodies this strategy. It focuses on developing a technological innovation industrial village, a provincial photovoltaic industrial park, an energy storage technology demonstration park (battery industrial park), a machinery manufacturing industrial chain, a photovoltaic industrial chain, and an electronic and electrical industrial chain. The battery industrial park has already finalized its construction plans and received approval from the provincial environmental protection department. Demolition began in April, and as of now, 350 residential homes have been demolished. By the end of the year, five enterprises with over 1 billion yuan in investment are expected to move into the park, quickly establishing industry clusters and distinct characteristics. The construction of the “three chains” includes integrating the machinery manufacturing industry into a single entity—covering smelting, casting, processing, and assembly—to vigorously develop hydraulic machinery, mining machinery, and petroleum machinery industries. By the end of the Twelfth Five-Year Plan period, they aim to reach a scale of 50 billion yuan. Secondly, the photovoltaic industry chain will be extended and strengthened around Comprox's high-purity silicon, aiming to establish a complete system including polysilicon, monocrystalline silicon, amorphous silicon, broken squares, slicing, solar cell packaging, components, and integrated power generation systems. By the end of the Twelfth Five-Year Plan period, they hope to reach a scale of 20 billion yuan. Thirdly, they will enhance key electronic and electrical industrial chains like Hongyuan Electronics, Communication Technology, Fairview Electronic Touch Screen, Junying Optoelectronics, Revitalize Micro Channel Flat Tube, and Natural Gas Power Generation. They aim to create globally recognized products like UHV electrode foils, flexible circuit boards, electronic touch screens, power fittings, special cables, micro-channel flat tubes, etc., becoming a global production base for these items, with the goal of reaching 20 billion yuan by the end of the Twelfth Five-Year Plan period. Traditional industries such as textiles and garments are also being transformed and upgraded. Efforts are focused on increasing technological content through branding, eliminating weaknesses while enhancing strengths, and expanding the textile and garment sector, particularly Bosideng garments, Yonghui polypropylene, and Sanhong duvets. Major companies drive large-scale industries, and these industries drive broader development. This year, the development zone has emphasized adjusting the industrial structure and optimizing it as the main task. Innovation capability has been treated as a breakthrough point to actively assist enterprises in solving developmental issues. They are concentrating on nurturing leading players in the industry, accelerating the cultivation of enterprises with backward advantages. This year, they will focus on cultivating projects like Kangbo New Materials' 8,000-ton high-purity silicon, Walmart Opto Semiconductors’ new type of backlight ultra-thin keyboard, Beautiful Future's 40-million electronic touch screen, computer modules, aerospace hydraulic turbines, Yonghui Technology's polypropylene-like feather down, Huaxing Stone Machine’s 5,000-meter machine, Heyi's 2-million electric tools, Guangyuan power fittings, Junying photoelectric LED and photoelectric equipment, Buick Electromechanical's 1.5-million automobile and motorcycle wheels, Hongyuan's 1.8-million-square-meter UHV electrode foil, and Jiangsu We Revitalize Aluminum’s 30,000-ton micro-channel flat aluminum tube projects. Their goal is to achieve one company with an output value of 30 billion yuan, one company exceeding 10 billion yuan, two companies surpassing 5 billion yuan, and ten companies reaching over 1 billion yuan by the end of the Twelfth Five-Year Plan period, with two companies listed.