活力中国调研行｜向天空要发展 向开放要动能——湖北最小地级市的腾飞之路

Core Insights - The article highlights the transformation of Ezhou, a small city in Hubei, into a significant logistics hub due to the establishment of Ezhou Huahu International Airport, the first professional cargo hub airport in Asia and the fourth globally [2][17] - Ezhou's import and export value surged to 16.73 billion yuan in the first half of the year, marking a year-on-year increase of 273.9%, the highest growth rate in the province [2] Group 1: Airport and Logistics Development - Ezhou Huahu International Airport has opened 104 cargo routes, covering 54 domestic and 48 international destinations, with over 66,000 cargo flights and a cargo throughput exceeding 2 million tons, of which international cargo accounts for over 43% [7][17] - The airport's efficiency is enhanced by a deep integration with the Wuhan Customs system, allowing for automatic arrival and rapid clearance of export goods, and a "fast track" for imported perishables [5][17] - The airport has introduced an innovative "air-to-air transfer" model, reducing international transfer times to 5 hours, a 60% improvement over traditional methods [5] Group 2: E-commerce and Economic Growth - The establishment of the China (Ezhou) Cross-border E-commerce Industrial Park has fostered a new ecosystem for cross-border e-commerce, enabling rapid delivery of goods globally [8][12] - Since its operation began on April 30, the industrial park has hosted over 3,371 visits and facilitated the registration of 258 companies, generating a trade volume exceeding 310 million USD [12] - The rapid growth of e-commerce in Ezhou is exemplified by a local team that expanded from 2 to 15 members within two months, achieving sales of over 200,000 USD [10][12] Group 3: Regional Economic Impact - Ezhou is positioned as a key logistics node in central China, connecting the Yangtze River Delta and the Pearl River Delta, enhancing its role as a cargo gateway [16] - The airport's rapid development has attracted 288 projects in the Ezhou Airport Economic Zone, focusing on modern logistics, high-end manufacturing, and healthcare [17] - The transformation from a steel city to a global logistics hub illustrates Ezhou's potential as a model for inland cities in China seeking to leverage air transport for economic growth [17]