"Heilongjiang province is an untapped 'golden mountain' to be explored, and now it is right time to make a decision to invest in it," said Governor Li Zhanshu.

As one of China's major manufacturing industrial centers, the province in northeast China has a distinct edge in petrochemicals, power station equipment and machinery, mini vehicles, small passenger planes and bio-tech industries.

Currently, the provincial authorities are advancing construction of the Harbin-Daqing-Qiqihar Industrial Corridor, a development zone with a planned area of more than 900 sq km and a total investment of 220 billion yuan.

The project, connecting three cities - provincial capital Harbin, oil-rich Daqing and manufacturing center Qiqihar as well as their surrounding regions - boasts ample energy supplies and sound industrial foundation, and thus is expected to play an instrumental role in revitalizing the traditional industrial base and spurring growth of local economy.

Along with the industrial progress, agriculture has long been a pillar sector of Heilongjiang's economy.

One of the world's three greatest expanses of rich soil, the province has nearly 10 million hectares of arable land and accounts for one-tenth of the country's total fine farming fields.

With an annual production capability of 50 billion kg grain, 3 million kg meat and 4.6 million kg milk, Heilongjiang ranks top and second in output of grain and animal husbandry respectively among Chinese provinces.

Considering the spreading worldwide food crisis, the fertile land seems an ideal choice for investors.

Farming and agricultural processing industry are the main directions for which the province's agriculture is heading.

Developing export-oriented finished agricultural products for the neighboring countries that rely on food import, like Japan, is also expected to reward investors, provincial government said.

In addition, finance is listed a priority in the province's opening-up industries. As the provincial government released a series of new preferential policies in recent years, more investment is expected to be drawn to this sector with huge growth potential.

Boasting its well-preserved ecological environment, the province is rich in tourism resources including forests, prairies, wetlands and snow and ice tourism sites. Heilongjiang is also becoming a popular summer resort.

Advantages

Heilongjiang enjoys an advantageous geographical location in connection with neighboring nations such as Russia, Japan, North Korea and South Korea.

Through a major international railway, Heilongjiang can spread its influence into Europe via Russia. Sea routes also provide the border province an access to Japan and the Koreas

Meanwhile, an artery railway also links the utmost northeastern province with southern economies, thus giving Heilongjiang an opportunity to involve itself in the growing export aimed at Asian nations.

To date, the province's expressways have surpassed 1,000 km. During the 11th Five-Year Plan (2006-10), a total of 150 billion yuan is planned to pour in a number of transportation projects, seeking to expand and improve the province's transportation network.

The progress of transportation facilities has also bolstered development of local logistics. Grain, energy, raw materials, equipment and machines rolling out of the province and a growing service trade volume is making Heilongjiang a marked regional commercial hub.

Plentiful rural labor is another appeal of the province. More than 5 million rural workers, who have left their countryside homes and shifted to cities for work, provide a vast pool of human resources, Governor Li noted.

Cooperation with neighboring nations in overseas construction and service projects have brought fruitful results.

Revenues gained in the overseas construction projects and labor cooperation registered $690 million last year, according to the provincial authorities.

(China Daily August 10, 2008)