A staff member grooms a cat at East China's first pet waiting lounge, which opened at Hangzhou International Airport on Aug 28. [Photo/IC]

Zhejiang province has unveiled a comprehensive plan to foster the growth of its pet industry, aiming to build a robust industrial cluster and stimulate new consumption momentum in the sector.

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Zhejiang Province, along with five other government departments, jointly released the Opinions on Promoting the Development of the Pet Economy on Oct 20. The document aims for the province's pet-related consumption market to exceed 30 billion yuan ($4.23 billion) by 2027 and 50 billion yuan by 2030.

The plan calls for the creation of pet industry clusters across different regions. Northern Zhejiang will focus on developing a full industrial chain covering pet food, pharmaceuticals, medical services, and smart products, while Yiwu will use its global trade hub advantage to establish a major pet product trading center. Southern Zhejiang's Pingyang will develop as a manufacturing base for pet food and supplies.

In pet food and pharmaceuticals, the policy encourages enterprises to develop customized functional products for different breeds and health conditions, accelerate innovation in veterinary medicines, and strengthen domestic alternatives to imported products. It also introduces new standards for processing, testing, and safety oversight.

The plan highlights the integration of artificial intelligence, the internet of things, and precision manufacturing into smart pet devices, including feeders, litter boxes, dryers, and wearable tracking equipment. Companies are encouraged to open smart pet product stores and strengthen cooperation with large retail chains.

Efforts will also be made to regulate and expand related service sectors, including pet insurance, grooming, training, boarding, and photography, while promoting pet-friendly tourism.

In digital trade, Zhejiang will support pet-related enterprises in exploring livestreaming, e-commerce, and social commerce models. The province plans to host dedicated pet e-commerce expos and expand exports of pet supplies through platforms such as Hangzhou International Airport and Yiwu's global trading network.

The document also emphasizes closer collaboration between industry, academia, and research institutions, calling for the establishment of pet research centers and industrial innovation institutes.

Zhejiang will further promote the standardized development of veterinary services, enhance talent training, increase transparency in pricing, and strengthen quality supervision of pet food, medicine, and exotic animal trade.

The new policy will take effect 30 days after its release.