He said the administrative committee had been planning the zone's layout, focussing on industries like petrochemicals, pulp-paper manufacturing, energy, iron and steel production, aluminum processing, foodstuff processing, shipbuilding, information technology, ocean-related business, tourism and logistics.

"Many business people have approached the zone about possible investment opportunities, and the zone is definitely heating up," Chen said.

He said several deals for large-scale projects had already been reached.

Among them were a 56 billion yuan ($7.18 billion) joint-venture iron and steel project between Wuhan Iron and Steel (Group) Corp and Liuzhou Iron and Steel Group in Fangchenggang; a 12.5 billion yuan ($1.6 billion) China National Petroleum Corp oil refinery project in Qinzhou with an annual refining capacity of 10 million tons; and a 3 billion yuan ($384.62 million) electrolytic aluminum project in Nanning.

Ma Biao, Party secretary of Nanning, the autonomous region's capital, said the city is keen to act as the zone's headquarters and will speed up the development of its logistics offerings and exhibition industry.

Huang Daowei, Party secretary of Qinzhou, said his city is particularly interested in the development of harbor industries and tourism, while Wen Kahua, Party secretary of Beihai, said his city would encourage environmentally friendly industrial development.

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