Recently, the Fujian Department of Commerce released the list of the top 30 development zones of 2021 in the province, and two development zones in Xiamen ranked first and second on the list, local media reported on Nov 2.

The two Xiamen development zones are Xiamen Torch Development Zone for High Technology Industries and Xiamen Haicang Taiwan Business Investment Zone.

The ranking was based on 57 indicators in six aspects including development scale, land intensiveness, scientific and technological innovation, environmental protection and safety, opening-up and cooperation, and management services.

The province's development zones play an important role in boosting economic development, gathering investment, saving land usage, motivating sci-tech innovation, and deepening opening-up and cooperation.

Statistics show that the province's development zones achieved a total GDP of 1.88 trillion yuan ($259.35 billion) in 2021, an increase of 14.3 percent from the previous year, and accounted for 38.6 percent of the province's total.

In addition, the added value of industries above designated size in the development zones was 1.01 trillion yuan in 2021, an increase of 15.3 percent from the previous year, and accounted for 56.6 percent of the province's total.

Xiamen Torch Development Zone for High Technology Industries. [Photo/WeChat account: xiamen_swj]

A bird's-eye view of the Xiamen Haicang Taiwan Business Investment Zone. [Photo/WeChat account: xiamen_swj]