The service industry in Ordos city in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region witnessed a robust growth last year, propelled by supportive economic and social policies.  

From January to November 2023, 278 enterprises above designated size generated a combined operating income of 49.79 billion yuan ($6.94 billion), marking a year-on-year growth of 5.2 percent. The total profit reached 20.49 billion yuan, maintaining a top position in the autonomous region and recording a remarkable year-on-year growth of 107.6 percent. Employee payments reached 6.11 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 13.5 percent, ranking first in the region for growth rate.

The substantial growth in nine major sectors demonstrated the city's diversified development. The cultural, sports and entertainment industry saw the highest rise in operating income, a year-on-year increase of 139.2 percent. The operating income of five major categories of resident services, repair and other services, water management, environmental and public facilities management, leasing and business services, education, and scientific research and technical services, all achieved double-digit growth.

Notably, leasing and business services made a significant contribution, driving a 2.4 percentage point increase in the operating income of service industries above designated size. Information transmission, software and information technology services, along with real estate (excluding real estate development and operation), maintained stable growth rates at 6.8 percent and 7.3 percent, respectively. Transportation, warehousing and postal services saw a year-on-year growth of 0.4 percent, showcasing a turnaround from negative to positive, an increase of 0.7 percentage points compared with the period from January to October 2023.

Banners and districts in Ordos showed momentum. Kangbashi district, Etuoke front banner, and Hanggin banner exhibited higher growth rates in operating income compared with the city's average. Kangbashi, in particular, displayed robust growth, contributing to a 6.5 percentage point increase in operating income of the city's service industry above designated size. Dongsheng district, with an operating income of 18.79 billion yuan, and Jungar banner, with 13.27 billion yuan, held relatively high proportions, accounting for 37.7 percent and 26.7 percent of the city's total operating income, respectively.