Guangzhou plans to develop itself into an international logistics center for the south of China within eight years, according to an official of the city government. Then, the cost of logistics will be reduced to 13 percent of the provincial gross domestic product (GDP) and third party logistics will account for 23 percent of the total logistics market.
Wu Ziyou, vice director of the Development and Planning Committee of Guangzhou, says modern logistics has a good start in the city and will develop quickly in next five to 10 years. Third party logistics, especially sea port and airport logistics handled by others, will maintain faster growth than GDP. It is expected that the throughput of airports will increase from 490,000 tons (2000) to 1.33 million tons (2010), with an average development rate of 10 percent.
To set up comprehensive logistic information and transportation platforms, Guangzhou plans to build three international logistic zones at Nansha, Huangpu and Guangzhou New Airport and five regional logistic parks at Fangcun, Baiyun, Zengcheng, Panyu and Huadu. The city will introduce logistics helpful policies and regulations to attract international, state-owned and privately-owned logistic companies.
The program and building of the three international logistic zones is at present underway. The Huangpu Logistic Zone has marked out an area of some 33 hectares for its eastern part. The program of the Nansha Logistic Zone is still under examination. And the Guangzhou Airport Zone has marked out 66-hectare area to set groundwork and underground pipes in place.
Wu Ziyou said the three international logistic Zones have different business regions. Huangpu Zone covers the short and middle-distant regions of the Pearl River Delta, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, Chinese provinces along its seas as well as Japan, ROK, DPRK and the Southeast Asia. Nansha Zone will develop bonded processing, storage and transportation to provide services for ocean container transportation. Guangzhou Airport Zone will provide storage, transfer, and processing, packaging, express and standard delivery for air-transported goods.
To speed-up logistics? development, Guangzhou will also introduce a logistic joint conference system, referring to the experience of Hong Kong.
(China.org.cn by Feng Yikun May 7, 2003)
