Construction of Howard North Trade Center, which will be the largest trade center for industrial products in North China, recently started in Yangqu county, Taiyuan, Shanxi province.

The center, with an investment of more than 8 billion yuan ($1.25 billion), covers 177 hectares. A trade center focusing on construction and decoration materials, a storage and logistics area, a convention and exhibition center, five-star hotels and shopping centers will be constructed.

Jointly built by Howard Group from Hong Kong and Shanxi Chamber of Commerce for Hardware and Mechatronics, the center will take advantage of local transportation, location and industrial policies, and develop into a service-oriented and intelligent modern commercial cluster which integrates trade and business, financial service, industrial communication and office work in business headquarters.

Local companies have been collaborating on the project with Howard North Trade Center.

For example, Shanxi Meipo Technology Co, an e-commerce company, will offer over 100-million-yuan orders related to hardware and mechatronics, construction materials, steel products and mining equipment to manufacturers and provincial agents which settle in the Howard North Trade Center. The company will also help the center establish an information management system.

Once put into operation, the Howard North Trade Center is expected to offer jobs to 150,000 people and generate 300 million yuan in annual tax.