Guizhou has released a key development plan on its digital economy, which aims to lift the contribution made by the sector to at least 30 percent of the province's total gross domestic product by 2020, senior officials said.

The plan, the first of its kind in the country, targets expanding the utilization of information technology and big data.

To achieve the goal, Guizhou officials said the province had taken progressive moves.

"The key to drive digital economy lies in the projects," said Xu Yuanzhi, deputy head of the provincial development and reform commission.

"Last month, the commission announced 97 projects were contracted out,"Xu said.

These covered areas of the digital economy including resources, technology and services. The total investment was 65 billion yuan ($9.45 billion), Xu added.

Guizhou wants to under-pin the significance of big data during the further development of its digital economy, officials said.

"Big data features heavily in the digital economy," said Ma Ningyu, deputy secretary-general of further development in Guizhou provincial government.

"The Guizhou government has listed big data as a crucial strategy, alongside poverty alleviation,"Ma added.

In 2014, the Bainiaohe Digital Town was launched with a 5 square kilometer industrial park and an information hub, focusing on internet and information technology.

More than 30 companies decided to move in, including big names such as Baidu, HTC and Legend star.

"The investment environment is good and the local government officials have a sound and deep understanding of the digital economy and offer sufficient services," said Sheng Hua, CEO of MDong Technology, an internet company that focuses on accurate online interactive marketing.

The company moved to the digital town in 2015 and in the following year it generated 20 million yuan in revenue with a profit top-ping 5 million yuan.

"We plan to double staff numbers in 2017 to 200 full-time employees," Sheng said, adding that the company was now targeting 50 mil-lion yuan in revenue.

Bainiaohe Digital Town is aiming to become the home of more than 100 big data development enterprises in the next three years, providing tens of thousands of jobs and creating a 10 billion yuan worth of industry. The town also looks forward to being host to 10 listed companies.

Contact the writers through renxiaojin@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 02/10/2017 page16)