China Business Weekly reported that authorities in Hubei have announced ambitious plans to build new docks, railways and roads around the provincial capital of Wuhan and would make the city the biggest river port in Asia by 2030. The move is part of a plan to speed up the industrialization of the Yangtze Economic Zone to benefit from effective river transportation.

The proposed new Wuhan port comprises 22 districts, covering 173 kilometers. The docks are being designed to take advantage of river transportation and also develop local industry with the facilitation of advanced logistics systems.

According to one observer, however the proposal does not go far enough.

Mr Zhang Chang'er a member of the provincial standing committee of the Communist Party of China said "Hubei's Yangtze Economic Zone, with an area of more than 70,000 square kilometers will become a convenient logistics hub of the Yangtze River and Central China a modern base for a variety of industries and an ecologically friendly home for urban dwellers by 2020."

Mr Wu Xinmu an economics professor at Wuhan University said "It should be extended as far as Huangshi a downstream port district only 70 kilometers from Wuhan, so we can have a greater Wuhan port that smoothly connects with railways and highways. He said another challenge is overlapping administrations. The new Wuhan port will integrate docks that used to be owned and managed by different enterprises or local administrations. Only through integration can we improve efficiency."

Mr Hakan Karadogan unit managing director of SEC AREVA in Wuhan said "We manufacture heavyweight power transformers, and the most important transportation means is by river or sea. He said that with the further construction of the Yangtze River transportation infrastructure, we will achieve faster and more reliable shipments of our products. We believe that the plan will be a positive influence for the local economy and for businesses here."

Mr Gong Liutang an economics professor at Peking University said "Hubei has a good foundation of heavy and light industries, but it has lagged behind the development of the Yangtze Delta and the Pearl River Delta in recent year. Hubei should seize the opportunity for an industrial upgrade and strive to develop industrial connectivity. He added that planting, fishing, sideline production and food processing all have room for improvement."

(Sourced from China Business Weekly)