佛山，离千万人口大市还有多远？

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the population development plan of Foshan, aiming to reach a permanent population of 10.16 million by 2030, highlighting the challenges and strategies involved in achieving this goal [1][12]. Population Growth Analysis - As of 2024, Foshan's permanent population is 9.6989 million, with a gap of 301,100 to reach 10 million and 461,100 to reach 10.16 million by 2030. An average annual population increase of over 50,000 is needed to join the "10 million club," while over 76,000 is required to meet the 10.16 million target [2]. - Foshan's population growth has declined from first to fourth in Guangdong over the past four years, with significant growth in 2017 and 2018 due to relaxed housing policies attracting migrants [2][5]. Economic Performance - Foshan's GDP growth has lagged behind other major cities, ranking last among cities with a GDP over 1 trillion yuan in 2023. The city has faced negative growth in industrial output, investment, foreign trade, and consumption due to its traditional industrial structure heavily linked to real estate [7][8]. - In 2024, Foshan's traditional industries saw a decline in added value by 1.6%, with significant drops in construction materials and metal products. The total export value decreased by 20.5%, indicating a need for industrial transformation [8]. Industrial Transformation Initiatives - The "Recreate a New Foshan" initiative aims to upgrade traditional industries and develop emerging sectors, targeting the creation of "10+N" trillion-yuan industrial clusters. This includes existing clusters in manufacturing and plans for new clusters in strategic emerging industries [11][12]. - In the first three quarters of the year, Foshan signed 253 projects in emerging industries, with a total investment of 143.92 billion yuan, representing 62.5% of the total investment in manufacturing projects [11]. Future Outlook - If Foshan successfully transforms its industries and achieves a population of over 10 million by 2030, it will join Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Dongguan as a key pillar in the Greater Bay Area, enhancing its economic and service sector growth [12].