North China's Shanxi province will focus on advancing its industrial transformation and upgrading projects in 2020, according to the Shanxi Department of Industry and Information Technology.

Officials said the aim is to develop landmark industrial clusters and sectors with an expected annual industrial output value of over 100 billion yuan ($14.11 billion). 

The department will make technological transformation its top priority. 

This year's provincial budget for technological transformation, totaling 2.5 billion yuan, will be used in projects in eight areas, including intelligent manufacturing demonstration projects, green manufacturing promotions and the integration of informatization and industrialization. 

With government subsidies, Shanxi aims to encourage local companies to upgrade and transform their business with new technologies, processes, equipment and models -- and realize intelligent, green and high-end development. 

In the manufacturing sector, Shanxi will focus on developing and strengthening high-end equipment manufacturing, new materials, digital, energy conservation and environmental protection industries with annual industrial output value of over 100 billion yuan. 

It will focus on developing three strategic emerging industries -- new energy vehicles, modern medicine and healthcare and the modern coal chemical industry -- which are expected to exceed 100 billion yuan in annual industrial output value.

As well, it will optimize and promote the green development of coking and steel industries in the current year.

Ma Yunxia, deputy director of the Shanxi Department of Industry and Information Technology, said that the department will select 20 benchmark projects to push forward, involving the big data, semiconductors and information technology applications and innovation sectors.