"Truly unexpected," remarked Ma Fei on the morning of December 12 at the Sichuan Tianfu New Area High-Quality Development Conference as he checked his seat assignment. To his surprise, his neighbor was Chen Lin, Member of the Chengdu Municipal Party Standing Committee and Party Secretary of the Sichuan Tianfu New Area Party Working Committee. Ma Fei, CEO of Chengdu Haiyi Interactive Entertainment Technology Co., Ltd., was among several entrepreneurs, including Huang Ming, Chairman of Sichuan Tianfu Light Power Technology Co., Ltd., seated alongside the top leadership of the new area.
What was the significance of this arrangement? Why were these entrepreneurs given center stage?
"Enterprises are the foundation and driving force behind Sichuan Tianfu New Area's development," explained a spokesperson from the new area’s administrative committee. The conference’s focus on high-quality development hinges on the growth of its business entities.
The 12 entrepreneurs invited to the front row were selected for their rapid growth and representative impact in the region. For instance, Ye Xiaoqiang, General Manager of Chengdu Taihua Zhongcheng Technology Group, noted that since relocating its R&D team and operations to the area in 2022, the company has built a competitive edge in permanent magnet transmission, magnetic levitation, and special alloy materials. Over three years, its assets surged from 120 million yuan to an estimated 764 million yuan, with revenue and local contributions also seeing significant growth.
Other invitees have gained national or global influence in their fields. Cui Guanfang, Co-founder and CEO of Sichuan Bafang Tengtai Technology, highlighted the company’s achievements as a top-30 cultural enterprise in China and the first privately-owned ad media firm listed on the main board. The company has won prestigious industry awards, including the Great Wall Award (Bronze) from the China Advertising Association.
"Our story proves Sichuan Tianfu New Area is not just a geographic hub but a beacon for innovation," said Ma Fei. His company, operational for just 18 months, has leaped forward in AI-generated imagery, boasting 25 million monthly active users globally and generating over 300 million images and 5 million videos monthly in 2023.
During the conference, entrepreneurs shared key suggestions for the area’s future. Huang Ming emphasized optimizing the business environment, citing his company’s swift establishment of a 15-acre industrial park within four months. He hopes for more supportive policies to attract supply chain partners and enhance the low-altitude economy ecosystem.
Xu Jian, Deputy General Manager of Dongfang Electric Digital Technology, called for stronger industry-academia collaboration in software and IT, proposing open innovation platforms and pilot testing zones to stimulate local demand.
In response, the administrative committee pledged to address these proposals, vowing to sustain the area’s momentum as a thriving hub for business and innovation.