Workers adjust a machine in a sapphire crystal processing and production factory in Yangquan, April 13. [Photo/Yangquan Daily]

The added value of industrial enterprises above designated size in the city of Yangquan – those with annual revenue of 20 million yuan ($3.06 million) or more – increased 10.4 percent year-on-year in the first quarter, according to the Yangquan bureau of industry and information technology. 

The city's strategic emerging industries continued to grow at a high rate over the past three months, 47.8 percentage points higher than the city's average. Meanwhile, the energy industry was still the main driving force for industrial economic growth and the manufacturing industry grew significantly, further driving the city's industrial transformation and development.

The project of Yangquan Outlets urban commercial complex is under construction in Yangquan. [Photo/Yangquan Evening News]

Since the beginning of this year, the Yangquan bureau of industry and information technology has coordinated epidemic prevention and control with economic development, focusing on the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries and the cultivation and growth of emerging industries.

The bureau has set up six industry offices for building materials, refractory materials, equipment, metallurgy, the chemical industry, and electronic information to form a complete and refined industrial operation scheduling system.

It also established six groups to carry out door-to-door services to local enterprises, helped them solve difficulties brought about by the epidemic, and promoted and interpreted policies to ensure they reap maximum benefits from these policies. 

A groudbreaking ceremony for 58 projects takes place in Yangquan, Feb 26. [Photo/Yangquan Daily]

Meantime, the bureau has taken actions to accelerate the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries and boosted emerging industries.

It has advanced the automation of the refractory industry and energy conservation and environmental protection in the cement industry, formulated a promotion mechanism for the growth of emerging industries, and accelerated construction of new materials projects.