According to Mr Huang Yong, board chairman of the newly set up Chongqing Helicopter Investment Group, Chongqing has chosen Liangjiang New Zone as the site for helicopter production. The municipality aims to invest Rmb5bn in the site so that within 10 years it will reach an annual capacity of 500 helicopters for civilian use.

The group, a consortium of state-owned companies in manufacturing, banking and foreign trade that was established last year to realise the city’s ambition, has signed an agreement with Honeywell International to produce engines and other major parts. Additional joint venture partnerships are being discussed with various parties, Mr Huang was quoted as saying. The municipal government had already announced earlier to the local congress that the first helicopter is scheduled to be delivered by the end of this year.

City government sources predict that, by 2015, annual demand in China would total at least 450 helicopters for civilian use. Last year Eurocopter, the world’s largest manufacturer, received an order from China worth nearly €200m.