Southeast Asia Information Port News (www.dnyxxg.com) – The Fifth Session of the 17th Suzhou Municipal People's Congress opened on the afternoon of the 22nd. Wu Qingwen, Deputy Secretary of the Suzhou Municipal Party Committee and Mayor of Suzhou, delivered the government work report to the congress on behalf of the Suzhou Municipal People's Government. The report revealed that Suzhou's GDP reached 2.77 trillion yuan (estimated figure, same below) in 2025, and the total industrial output of enterprises above designated size reached 4.9 trillion yuan. Reaching the 5 trillion yuan mark in total industrial output of enterprises above designated size has been set as one of Suzhou's main expected goals for economic and social development in 2026.
Over the past five years, Suzhou has maintained its composure and pursued progress steadily amidst a complex and challenging situation. It has reshaped its development momentum through innovation and transformation, strengthened its urban foundation with the real economy, expanded its growth space through reform and opening up, and enhanced the warmth of development through investment in people's livelihoods. As a result, its economic strength, innovation capacity, urban functions, and the people's sense of gain have all leaped forward simultaneously.
Suzhou is now standing on the threshold of 5 trillion yuan in total industrial output of enterprises above designated size. The report points out that during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, Suzhou's industrial structure accelerated its transformation, the foundation of its real economy became more solid, and industrial investment grew at an average annual rate of 8.1%, exceeding 225 billion yuan in 2025. It has formed three trillion-yuan-level industries: electronic information, equipment manufacturing, and new materials. The added value of manufacturing has remained above 40% of GDP. Suzhou ranks first in the country in both the number of global "lighthouse factories" and national-level 5G factories. The output value of high-tech industries and strategic emerging industries accounted for 56.2% and 49% of the total output value of industries above designated size, respectively.
As a major foreign trade city, Suzhou's foreign trade structure has continued to optimize over the past five years, with profound changes in trade methods, main players, markets, and business formats. The proportion of general trade and imports and exports by private enterprises increased by 4 and 13.3 percentage points, respectively. The proportion of imports and exports to countries and regions participating in the Belt and Road Initiative exceeded 40%, service trade grew by 15%, and market procurement and cross-border e-commerce increased by 1.9 times and 127 times, respectively.
In 2025, the "Suzhou Super League" will become a huge hit. By amplifying the spillover effects of the Suzhou Super League (Suzhou Super League), Suzhou's performing arts and sports economy has developed rapidly, with attractions such as Shishan Market, Lotus Market, Tianpingshan Red Maple Season, and Bacheng Old Street themed areas becoming new cultural and tourism hotspots. The city received over 200 million tourists throughout the year, with inbound tourists increasing by 23%.
The main expected targets for Suzhou's economic and social development in 2026 are: GDP growth of over 5%, general public budget revenue growth of around 2%, industrial investment growth of around 10%, total industrial output value of enterprises above designated size exceeding 5 trillion yuan, steady growth in total retail sales of consumer goods, stable volume and improved quality in imports and exports, a consumer price index increase of around 2%, per capita disposable income growing in tandem with economic growth, and R&D expenditure accounting for around 4.25% of GDP. (End)
