China is planning to boost the textile industry in the Xinjiang region. The idea is to transform Xinjiang into a major textile base in the next five years, with investment, financial aid and subsidies. Xinjiang is a major cotton base with low labor costs. Chinese apparel firms from outside Xinjiang have invested more than 30 billion yuan to establish plants and cooperate with local clothes makers.

Nurturing local companies and attracting capital from further afield, Xinjiang expects output of textile and garment sectors to reach 212.5 billion yuan by 2023, when it will be able to provide jobs for one million people. The northwestern region will soon have fresh opportunities with a bridge linking China to Russia and Central Asia, as the government coordinates a campaign to revive the ancient trade routes known as the Silk Road, to strengthen economic ties with neighboring countries.

Xinjiang borders eight countries, making it important to the Silk Road economic belt. The government has already started improving infrastructure and establishing special trade areas. A special zone has been constructed in the capital of Xinjiang to connect local producers with international markets and help internationalise Xinjiang’s enterprises. The zone, covering 2.4 square kilometers, is scheduled for operation by July 2016.