Caofeidian Industrial Zone E-Government business blueprint

Abstract

Caofeidian is just less than 100 kilometers away from Tangshan and about 200 kilometers from Beijing. It is an important port and industrial zone in the Bohai Rim and the Beijing ‐Tianjin ‐ Hebei economic zone. Chinese President Hu Jintao said in 2006 that Caofeidian is a “place of golden opportunities”. Tangshan city has invested more than RMB90 billion Yuan so far in infrastructure construction, and will increase the investment to RMB 100 billion Yuan by the end of 2009. It has been set as the No. 1 project by the Hebei provincial government and is also the key project in China's 11th Five-year Program. After four years of construction, roads which connect the island and railways have been completed in Caofeidian, as well as other public works such as water and power supply, telecommunications access, and waste and sewage treatment. Caofeidian will become a collection and distribution port for bulk cargo such as energy sources and ores, a new industrial base, a storage base for commercial energy, and a state-level demonstration area for a recycling economy. The objective of Caofeidian’s E-Government business blueprint is the application of ICT to transform both the internal and external relationships of Caofeidian, so that they are useful, legitimate, transparent and accountable. Three major support systems, namely preferential policies, infrastructure and life facilities have been completed to boost industrial development with strategic thought for the industrial chain and cluster. As end-users increasingly demand the availability of complete online services, E-Government projects are being steered towards seamless integration both within and between agencies. The Chinese legislative environment further supports this demand. This is a unique moment in time when uncertainties represent more opportunity than risk. Project leaders can and should leverage the joining together of demands in the implementation of new projects. The key to success will be the alignment of projects and programs with the new legislative environment and the emerging needs.