A commencement ceremony for 112 major projects in Jining is held at the construction site of the Jining Synthetic Biotechnology Industry Polymerization Platform in Zoucheng on May 17. [Photo/Qilu Evening News]

A commencement ceremony for 112 major projects was held in Zoucheng, a county-level city in Jining, on May 17.

The projects that will receive a total of 59.1 billion yuan ($8.77 billion) in investment include 68 industrial projects, 34 infrastructure projects and 10 that are meant to improve people's living standards.

Since the beginning of this year, Jining has beefed up its efforts to boost the manufacturing industry as a major driver for its economic growth.

For example, the Jining Synthetic Biotechnology Industry Polymerization Platform, which is to be built in Zoucheng, is designed to be a top industrial cluster specializing in synthetic biology nationwide, and is expected to play a vital role in optimizing Jining's industrial chain layout.

The project has been included in the Shandong province's major project list.

The first-phase of construction consists of a technological research and development base, an innovation and incubation base, a testing base, as well as storage and logistics facilities. The second phase includes a sci-tech incubation area and intelligent factories, as well as civil engineering projects such as sewage and power networks.

Upon completion, the project is expected to attract more than 100 synthetic biology companies in five to 10 years, generating an annual output value of 20 billion yuan, according to officials.