The Internet industry is one of the twelve key industries in Hainan Province. In recent years, Hainan’s Internet industry has maintained a positive development trend. In accordance with the development requirements of the government, revenues exceeded 125.7 billion yuan at the end of last year, with an average annual growth rate of 38%, and exceeded the goal of an industrial scale of 100 billion yuan.

According to data from the Department of Industry and Information Technology of Hainan Province, Hainan’s Internet industry annual revenues have grown from 24.1 billion yuan in the early period of the 13th Five-Year Plan to over 125.7 billion yuan by the end of last year. The average annual growth rate has reached 38%, and exceeded the goal of an industrial scale of 100 billion yuan.

Overlooking Fullsing Town Internet Industrial Park City

Photo: Hainan Daily reporter Zhang Mao

The Internet industry growth bucked negative trends, and last year's revenues exceeded 125.7 billion yuan

Hainan has a deep connection with the Internet. Hainan took the lead in developing the Internet industry in China in the late 1990s, and many well-known websites were originally created right here on the island. In 2015, the Hainan Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial Government reviewed the current situation and listed the Internet industry as one of the 12 key industries in Hainan. They issued opinions on the Internet industry and adopted a series of strong incentive measures to promote it.

From 2015 to 2020, the operating income of Hainan’s Internet industry was 24.1 billion yuan, 32.2 billion yuan, 43 billion yuan, 60.4 billion yuan, 82.5 billion yuan, and 125.75 billion yuan, corresponding to increases of 25.6%, 33.6%, 33.5%, 40%, 37%, and 52.5%.

Although the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic affected many industries, Hainan’s Internet industry still showed a strong development rebound, exceeding its annual revenue target of 100 billion yuan ahead of schedule. There were 15,000 new Internet companies in Hainan that year, doubling last year's numbers, and there are now more than 36,000 Internet companies in the province.

The advantages of the Free Trade Port policies are clear

In recent years, many companies have expressed optimism about the development opportunities of the Hainan Free Trade Port. Tencent, Alibaba, Baidu, Huawei, ZTE, and other Internet leaders and well-known companies from China and across the globe have increased their investment in Hainan.

The advantages of the Free Trade Port policies are clear, creating good conditions for Internet companies to build a global strategy.

Hainan Free Trade Port Resort Software Community 

Photo: Hainan Daily Reporter Wang Kai 

"As the target of 100 billion yuan was exceeded last year, Hainan plans to double the scale of the Internet industry over the next five years and strive to exceed 400 billion yuan by 2025," said Yin Libo, Director of the Department of Industry and Information Technology of Hainan Province. “Hainan will vigorously promote the innovative development of the next generation of the information technology industry, and lay a solid digital foundation for the Hainan Free Trade Port to achieve high-level opening up and high-quality development.”