Businesses based in the Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone in Hefei – capital city of the East China's Anhui province – recently signed off on nine space information industry projects with an investment of 10.6 billion yuan ($1.5 billion).

They are expected to inject new momentum into the development of the aerospace information industry in the zone, local media reported.

The signing ceremony was held in Hefei on April 24 on the sidelines of this year's Space Day of China.

Liu Dengyin, deputy director of the management committee of the Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone, said the projects would involve satellite payloads, satellite constellations, data communications and rocket launches – a new growth point, taking the development of the zone to the next phase.

Over the past two years, its space information sector has attracted and cultivated a raft of enterprises. Last year, nearly 80 enterprises were engaged in the industry, Liu said.

It's anticipated that the nine newly signed key aerospace information projects will further expand the aerospace information industry supply chain in Hefei.

Their products will be applied in such fields as environmental testing and protection, satellite communications, space transportation and smart cities.