An annual report that measures the quality competitiveness of
China's manufacturing industry has shown an increase for the eighth
year in a row.
The national quality competitiveness index (QCI) for the
country's manufacturing sectors was 79.98 last year, one point
higher than in 2005, according to a press release issued on Friday
by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection
and Quarantine, the country's quality agency.
The steady increase in quality competitiveness effectively
supports the development of the national economy and foreign trade,
Pu Changcheng, the administration's vice-minister said.
The figure was derived from the collected data of more than
250,000 large and medium-sized enterprises from 29 manufacturing
sectors, provided by the administration and the National Bureau of
Statistics.
"The calculation indicates that the quality competitiveness of a
number of manufacturing sectors has made significant improvements,"
Pu said.
Thirteen industrial sectors, six more than 2005, made
significant gains to a QCI level above 80.
The top five sectors were: Communications equipment, computers
and other electronics equipment, with a score of 85.04; measuring
instruments and machinery for cultural activities and office work,
84.53; electrical machinery and equipment, 84.01; rubber products,
83.34; and smelting and pressing of ferrous metals, 82.98.
The QCI of 13 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions,
including Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Jiangsu and Shandong,
surpassed the 80 mark.
East China areas have continued to take a leading role in QCI
growth, Pu said.
He said 2006 had witnessed many successful gains because of the
implementation of proactive State strategies to grow businesses
though quality products.
There were also crackdowns on fake and poor-quality
products.
"The efficiency of our quality control and food safety
inspections has also boosted the overall quality increases recorded
for the year," Pu said.
However, despite all the improvements, problems and weak links
still need fixing.
"We still have a long way to go," he said.
"There is an obvious gap between different industries and
regions, due to various factors such as technical innovation, new
product research and development, facility upgrades and the
building of quality capacity."
The lowest QCI recorded last year was 70.88, and the highest of
85.04.
The competitiveness of some sectors was not stable because of
various influences including the changing face of the domestic and
foreign markets, Pu said.
Competitiveness is still comparatively low in sectors that are
labor intensive.
(China Daily December 22, 2007)
