Ningxiang City has already achieved a commendable feat with the establishment of five enterprises reaching the illustrious ten-billion-yuan threshold. These esteemed companies include Hunan SANY Medium Lifting Machinery, Hunan Zoomwe New Energy Technology, Changsha Findreams Battery, Hunan Brunp Recycling Technology, and Gree Electric Appliances.

Additionally, other noteworthy companies such as Changsha Blossom New Energy, Sinoboom, Hunan Wuchuang Recycling Technology, and Hunan Zhongke Shinzoom are currently in the process of ascending to the same echelon. It is projected that by 2026, the number of such distinguished enterprises in Ningxiang will reach a total of approximately 14.

Ningxiang's prowess in cultivating "ten-billion-yuan" enterprises is a testament to its multifaceted appeal to a diverse range of companies, including those falling under the "three types of Fortune 500", listed companies, leading enterprises, key and supporting projects in the industrial chain, high-precision and advanced projects, as well as high-growth projects. What has caused Ningxiang to transform from being a follower to being a pioneer?

Zhang Zuolin, secretary of the Ningxiang Municipal Party Committee, recently expounded on the city's unwavering commitment to providing an optimal business environment for enterprises.

He emphasized that enterprises are responsible for matters within their purview, whereas the government shoulders the responsibility for external factors that could impact these enterprises. As such, the city's administration is steadfast in its pledge to render prompt and reliable service, with a dedicated focus on serving the needs of these enterprises.

A conducive business environment serves as a fundamental pillar for regional growth and development. In 2022, Ningxiang witnessed a remarkable ascent in China's top 100 counties with the most investment competitiveness rankings, moving up four places to secure the 20th spot. This impressive feat was the most rapid and substantial advancement among the five counties (county-level cities) in Hunan Province that made the list.

Attentive services

In recent years, Ningxiang City has prioritized the optimization of its business environment as a critical area for development. The city has implemented a comprehensive approach that includes enhancing government affairs, improving service quality, elevating civilization standards, fortifying city infrastructure, and streamlining administrative procedures to expedite the resolution of business-related issues.

Additionally, the city has embraced cutting-edge technologies such as one-stop services and digital certification to provide a seamless and efficient experience for enterprises. By diligently undertaking these initiatives, Ningxiang has cultivated a business-friendly ecosystem that empowers enterprises to flourish and invigorates the local economy.

Ningxiang has proven to be the epitome of prompt, efficient government services by introducing a host of measures. These include a government hotline, transparent government affairs, and improved government service quality, all aimed at expediting approval processes, simplifying business procedures for enterprises, and augmenting project construction efficiency.

The city has instituted a management system for lists of requisite documentation, encouraged the circulation of necessary documents, and facilitated information sharing. Consequently, the average procedures have declined by 70%, required documents by 60%, and processing time by 80%.

Moreover, the city has spearheaded innovative "simplified approval" measures, including non-face-to-face approvals for high-frequency matters, proactive approvals for requested matters, and intelligent approvals for straightforward issues. In 2022, the government service system in the city processed 2,139,162 applications with a completion rate of 99.83% and a satisfaction rate of 99.97%, with 44.18% of services being completed entirely online.

Ningxiang City displays an unwavering commitment to providing meticulous service to its businesses. In pursuit of fostering an affable and authentic relationship between government and enterprises, Ningxiang has implemented three innovative systems: the "Direct Line to the Mayor and Secretary for Enterprises", "Ordering by Enterprises, Preparation by Government, Prompt Delivery", and "Priority for Leading Enterprise".

It has also created a mailbox whereby companies can communicate their concerns directly to the mayor or secretary and hosts a monthly "Mayor-Enterprise Meeting Day". Furthermore, the city endeavors to increase the output of leading enterprises through an initiative. It has also launched the "One Thousand Officials for One Thousand Enterprises" campaign, which optimizes the business environment and extends support to critical enterprises and projects.

To this end, the "Delivering Policies, Solving Problems, and Providing Quality Service" initiative was introduced, with a focus on addressing matters relating to land use, approval, demolition, funding, and utilities. The introduction of subsidies for leased land, employment, and education further evidences its commitment to creating an open and hospitable business environment.

The cultivation of a civilized society is a crucial element for a prosperous business environment. In this regard, Ningxiang City has been proactively engaged in building an open, efficient, and transparent governance structure.

It is committed to providing streamlined and comprehensive one-stop services for businesses, while also prioritizing the promotion of public civility. By encouraging its citizens to be mindful of the city's image and fostering a strong community of like-minded individuals, Ningxiang is actively creating a conducive and supportive atmosphere for businesses to thrive.

Ningxiang City's shareholder-style service approach has yielded impressive results, exemplified by Sinoboom's 65,000-square-meter intelligent lighthouse factory, which was completed within seven months of land acquisition. Similarly, Changsha Blossom New Energy's lithium iron phosphate project transitioned from negotiation to groundbreaking in less than a month, reflecting the remarkable efficiency and agility of the city's project management processes.

These achievements have set a new standard for "Ningxiang Speed" in which major projects can progress swiftly from land acquisition and demolition to completion and production. Furthermore, the "Double Ten, Double Hundred, Double Thousand" initiative has propelled industrial development to new heights, with five enterprises producing over 10 billion yuan in annual output, a historic achievement that underscores the city’s commitment to promoting sustainable economic growth.

Streamlined administration

Ningxiang is witnessing a dynamic, lively atmosphere with ongoing construction projects springing up, evoking a sense of inspiration and energy. With a focus on leading industries and accelerating the shift towards new and renewable energy sources, the city is experiencing a marked improvement in development quality and efficiency.

The government's unwavering commitment to attracting investment and fostering strong enterprises has resulted in the emergence of an economic powerhouse exhibiting remarkable vitality. Additionally, the steady progress of integrating industry with the city and further enhancing the business environment attests to the city's robust and enduring growth trajectory.

Zhou Zhanghuai, manager for the second-phase expansion project of China Resources C'estbon Beverage (Changsha) Co. Ltd. at Ningxiang Economic & Technological Development Zone (NETDZ), recently provided an update on the project's progress. According to Zhou, the project has reached the construction phase of basic infrastructure and steel structure lifting, with the former nearly 80% complete and the latter approximately 70% complete.

The machine equipment is expected to arrive on site by July 30, with trial production scheduled for August and official production set for October 30. He attributed the rapid progress of the project to Ningxiang's "shareholder-style" services, which included the NETDZ Management Committee's unwavering support for the project's previous development reports and construction permits.

Over the past few years, a total of 1,215 officials in Ningxiang have been handpicked to conduct personalized visits to local enterprises, providing them with targeted support and promptly addressing their concerns and demands. Through these efforts, businesses are kept informed of the latest preferential policies and given the opportunity to fully benefit from them.

Wang Zhenhua, general manager of Hunan Xiaoyangren Technology Development Co., Ltd., holds in high regard the city's favorable business environment. He commends the "Double Ten, Double Hundred, Double Thousand" initiative for spearheading a remarkable transformation in the industrial sector of Hunan Province.

Furthermore, he expresses his admiration for Ningxiang's "shareholder-style" service approach and acknowledges that the city's extraordinary success owes much to its competent leadership.

A favorable business environment is essential for the survival and growth of market entities and the progress of economic development. In this regard, Ningxiang City has demonstrated innovation by setting up an enterprise production and sales docking service center, which aims to address challenges faced by businesses such as insufficient local networking, information asymmetry, and inadequate connections.

Through this initiative, local enterprises can support each other more effectively. In 2022, over 30 production-sales docking activities were organized, leading to a remarkable 3 billion yuan in cooperation.