Shanxi recognizes 8 new provincial characteristic professional towns

Eight provincial characteristic professional towns were recognized at a conference to promote new industrialization and manufacturing upgrading in Shanxi province on Dec 4. 

These newly selected provincial characteristic professional towns cover three significant categories: manufacturing, high-quality agriculture, and characteristic light industry (arts and crafts). 

They are in Zezhou county, Xiangfen county, Lingchuan county, Jiaoqu district in Yangquan, Yuci district in Jinzhong, Yanhu district in Yuncheng, Yunzhou district, and the economic development zone in Datong.

The characteristic professional town is an economic form with a relatively concentrated leading industry, a significant economic scale, and a high degree of specialized collaborative support, using a county (county-level city, district) as a basic geographic unit. 

The evaluation standards for provincial characteristic professional towns include a rich historical heritage, high employment rate, significant market demand, high industry agglomeration, outstanding product features, high-quality public services, and a favorable development environment. 

According to the plan, Shanxi aims to have more than 30 provincial characteristic professional towns by 2025. As of now, the number has reached 18.