BEIJING, March 25-- Positioned as the “core region” of halal industry development, Wuzhong of northwestern China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region is faced with unprecedented good chances, said Bai Shangcheng, the mayor and a NPC deputy in an exclusive interview with Xinhuanet lately.

Besides, the policy and financial support will stimulate vitality of the market, Bai added.

Wuzhong intends to built halal industry cluster and a halal industrial park, said Bai, adding the city’s halal industry grew by over 21 percent last year, with the output of 191 companies reaching more than 18 billion yuan (about 2.898 billion U.S. dollars).

However, without well-known brand, the development of Wuzhong’s halal industry would be limited, Bai admitted.

To address the situation, Wuzhong will implement a brand strategy to facilitate companies cooperate with famous international brands to increase the popularity, influence and market share of their goods, he said.

The mayor added Wuzhong has set up a halal industrial innovation and service center to help local enterprises go global by providing test and certification services. The center will also foster the R&D and innovation of the enterprises, he said.

Apart from halal food and Muslim commodities, Wuzhong will also develop sectors of equipment manufacturing, energy, chemical industry, new energy, new materials, agricultural products processing industry, so as to become a “golden pivotal” city on the Silk Road Economic Belt, he added.