From the World Manufacturing Convention: Anhui's High-Quality Industrial Development

HEFEI, China, Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- In golden autumn, Anhui once again draws global attention from the manufacturing industry as the 2026 World Manufacturing Convention gets underway in Hefei. Held in Anhui for years, the convention is not only a platform for showcasing new products and technologies, but also a window into the province's industrial transformation.

The clearest change in Anhui manufacturing is the shift toward new industries and a more optimized structure. Manufacturing has long been a pillar of Anhui's economy, and its manufacturing quality development index continues to rise. The shares of high-tech manufacturing, strategic emerging industries, equipment manufacturing and electronic information are growing. Equipment manufacturing alone has risen from 33.5% to 42.4%. New energy vehicles, integrated circuits and robotics are growing rapidly, while traditional manufacturing is becoming more high-end, intelligent and green.

Changes in manufacturing methods are also evident. Since 2021, the number of industrial enterprises above the designated size that have completed digital transformation has risen from fewer than 1,000 to 17,000, accounting for 69.5% of all such enterprises. Smart factories, green factories and lighthouse factories are coming into operation. Average tax revenue per mu has risen from 166,000 yuan to 232,000 yuan, while energy consumption per unit of industrial value added has fallen 14.2%. Invention patents per 10,000 people have doubled from the end of 2020. More first-of-its-kind equipment and first-batch products are emerging, making innovation a defining feature of Anhui manufacturing.

 The convention also connects Anhui with global markets. The 2025 World Manufacturing Convention facilitated 735 cooperation projects with total investment of 380.2 billion yuan, including 647 projects in ten key emerging industries worth 329.6 billion yuan. During preparations for this year's convention, 946 cooperation projects involving more than 400 billion yuan in investment had been identified. Activities such as cross-border industrial matchmaking and support for SMEs going global are helping companies find partners and share opportunities in Anhui.

Looking ahead, Anhui will develop new industries and emerging fields, including quantum technology, biomanufacturing and hydrogen energy. It will strengthen the links from research and development and testing to market application, integrate artificial intelligence and the industrial internet more closely with advanced manufacturing, and promote industrial clusters and high-quality enterprises. By attracting investment, technology and talent, the convention is helping expand Anhui's international manufacturing partnerships and create new opportunities for global manufacturing cooperation.

SOURCE The 2026 World Manufacturing Convention