Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the disparity in brand recognition and industrial focus among Jiangsu, Guangdong, and Zhejiang provinces in China, highlighting that Jiangsu, despite its high GDP, has significantly fewer well-known consumer brands compared to Guangdong and Zhejiang [2][5][9]. Group 1: Brand Recognition - Jiangsu has only 39 brands listed in the "Global Brand China Online 500 Strong List," ranking fifth nationally, which is significantly lower than Guangdong and Zhejiang [5][9]. - In the top 50 brands by CBI index, Jiangsu has only one brand (Bosideng), while Guangdong has 10 and Zhejiang has 5 [7][9]. - The majority of recognized brands from Jiangsu are not in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) or apparel sectors, which are dominated by brands from Guangdong and Zhejiang [9][19]. Group 2: Industrial Structure - Jiangsu's industrial output is heavily concentrated in heavy industry and upstream manufacturing, leading to fewer consumer-facing brands [19][23]. - The manufacturing workforce distribution shows that Jiangsu has a higher proportion of workers in heavy and B2B manufacturing compared to Guangdong and Zhejiang [12][16]. - Guangdong leads in electronic and electrical manufacturing, with a workforce in this sector exceeding that of Jiangsu and Zhejiang combined by over 1 million [12][22]. Group 3: Economic Contributions - In 2024, Jiangsu's construction industry contributed 44,771.5 billion yuan, accounting for 13.7% of the national total, indicating its strength in the construction sector [15]. - Jiangsu is the largest shipbuilding province in China, with a shipbuilding completion volume of 2,282 million deadweight tons, representing 47.4% of the national total [18]. - The steel production in Jiangsu is significantly higher than that of Guangdong and Zhejiang, with 16,757.2 million tons produced in 2024, which is 1.77 times the combined output of the other two provinces [16]. Group 4: Historical Context - The industrial focus of Jiangsu has historical roots, with a stronger heavy industry foundation established during the planned economy era, leading to a preference for upstream industries [23]. - The development paths of these provinces are influenced by their economic structures, with Guangdong focusing on electronics due to early foreign investment and Jiangsu's industrial base being more aligned with heavy industries [22][24]. - Zhejiang's lighter industrial focus is attributed to its reliance on private enterprises and a strong local service economy, which has fostered consumer brands [25].

Core Viewpoint - Shantou, once a promising economic special zone, has experienced continuous economic decline, becoming the only city among the five economic special zones and the only one in Guangdong province to report negative GDP growth [1][4][10]. Economic Performance - In the first three quarters of 2024, Shantou's GDP was 2279.30 billion yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 1.9%. The total GDP for 2024 was 3167.97 billion yuan, showing a nominal decline of 1.2% [1][2]. - The nominal GDP growth rate for 2024 was -0.87%, with a real growth rate of 0.02%, indicating a significant economic slowdown [1][4]. Real Estate Sector - Real estate development investment in Shantou fell by 15.8% in 2023 and continued to decline by 23.6% in 2024 [6][10]. - The sales area of commercial housing dropped to 270.37 million square meters in 2024, a decrease of 25.5% compared to the previous year [9][10]. Industrial and Export Performance - The added value of the secondary industry in Shantou decreased by 6.8% in 2024, with the total industrial output value falling by 18% [10][11]. - Exports declined by 9.2% in 2024, with significant drops in various sectors, including a 40.4% decrease in the textile and apparel industry [11][27]. Comparison with Other Cities - Shantou's economic output is less than one-eleventh of Shenzhen's and only 36.9% of Xiamen's, highlighting its relative economic weakness [2][4]. - Shantou lacks any trillion-yuan industries and has only nine hundred-billion-yuan industries, indicating a fragile industrial base [18][20]. Geographic and Environmental Factors - Shantou's geographical isolation and lack of external economic support have hindered its development compared to other special economic zones like Shenzhen and Xiamen [32][34]. - The family-based business culture in the Chaoshan region has created barriers for external investment, limiting economic growth opportunities [35][36]. Administrative Division Impact - The division of the Chaoshan region into four cities has led to resource fragmentation and weakened Shantou's position as a regional economic leader [37][38]. - Calls for the merger of Shantou, Chaozhou, and Jieyang into a single administrative entity have increased, reflecting a desire for stronger regional cooperation [38].