Chinese government to provide funding for “smart machinery”

26/05/2016
The Chinese government has put new funding in place to help manufacturing companies modernise production. Reports say it wants to encourage investment in “smart machinery” and other technological innovations to help make manufacturing more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly.

In its report on this move by the government, the China Leather Industry Association included figures that suggest that labour costs in China were less than half those of the US in 2003, but is now “only slightly lower”. In contrast, it said productivity per worker is six times higher in US factories.

To catch up, China last year announced a new campaign called Made in China 2025, a 10-year plan to upgrade manufacturing capacity.