From a Village to a Global Logistics Hub

By Dai Jingsong, Lei Chuang & Wu Huangli

As a thoroughfare to nine provinces, Hubei is engaged in facilitating a new logistics corridor, in order to make full use of the opportunities brought about by the Silk and Belt Initiative and the Yangtze River Economic Zone. Wuhan, the capital of Hubei Province, is now bold enough to emerge itself as a freight distribution center both at home and abroad.

The peaceful Zoumacun Village, located in Echeng District of Ezhou, Hubei, suddenly was abuzz with noise and excitement, for an international logistics hub project (hereinafter referred to as “the Hub”) was launched here,unveiling China’s endeavor to build the world’s No. 4 and Asia’s No.1 air logistics hub.

The Hub mainly covers such projects as the construction of an airport and its auxiliary infrastructure, the SF Transshipment Center and the SF Air Base. Currently, the projects under construction include the following eight items: the Placement Community in Hangkong Dushi District of Ezhou, a comprehensive treatment project for the river system of the Lake of Flower, a reconfiguration project for Zouma Lake, a municipal sewage project in Hangkong Dushi District, a radio detection station for free airspace, the storage yard for earth and stone at the construction site, the auxiliary electric power for the airport, and the express way to the airport.The total investment amounts to 18 billion yuan.

Freight-oriented, the Hub will minor in passenger transportation and plan to attract more airlines.The freight service is mainly intended to meet the transshipment need of the air express, while integrating traditional air freight services. It will constitute the dual-hub of passenger and freight transport together with Wuhan Tianhe Airport,radiating the city circle of Wuhan. The passenger service will include sightseeing, family visits, official business and commercial activities of Ezhou and the neighboring areas; it will also play a subsidiary role in relief work, emergency rescue, and general aviation. It’s estimated that, by 2015, the total cargo and passenger throughput will reach 2.452million tons and 1million persons respectively.

As a state-planned project, Hubei Provincial Government has signed an agreement with SF Holdings to set up Hubei International Logistics Airport Co. Ltd. to co-run Ezhou Airport, the first professional freight airport in Asia. .

It represents the real work in strengthening the transportation potentials in China, optimizing the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative and the development of the Yangtze River Economic Zone. Moreover, it is of great significance for developing inland free trade zones, accelerating the open-oriented economic systems, perfecting modern integrated transportation systems and promoting the upgrading of industrial structures.

九省通衢的湖北，抢抓“一带一路”、长江经济带等机遇，构建“九州通衢”物流新通道。武汉，正迈向全国乃至全球货运分拨中心。

平日宁静的湖北省鄂州市鄂城区走马村忽然热闹起来。一个国际物流核心枢纽项目（以下简称枢纽）在这里开工建设，拉开中国打造全球第四、亚洲第一的航空物流枢纽的帷幕。

该枢纽涵盖机场及配套工程、顺丰转运中心工程、顺丰航空基地工程等一批项目，投资巨大。此次开工的是航空都市区安置小区、花马湖水系综合治理、走马湖水系改造、航空都市区市政污水处理、机场净空保护无线电检测站、场区土石方堆场、机场配套电力、机场快速通道等8个项目，总投资180亿元。

枢纽定位货运为主、客运为辅，将吸引一批航空公司进驻。货运业务主要满足航空快递运营中转运作需要，兼顾传统航空货运业务，与武汉天河机场构建武汉城市圈航空客货“双枢纽”；客运业务主要服务于鄂州及周边地区的旅游、探亲、公务和商务活动，兼顾保障抢险救灾、应急救援和通用航空使用等。到2025年，枢纽年货邮吞吐量、旅客吞吐量预计为245.2万吨、100万人次。

枢纽是国家规划项目。湖北省政府与顺丰控股公司签订合作协议，运营亚洲首个专业货运机场——鄂州机场，在鄂州注册成立湖北国际物流机场有限公司。

该枢纽是建设交通强国战略的实际举措，是 “一带一路”建设和长江经济带发展的重要支撑，对中国打造内陆自贸区、加快构建开放型经济新体制、完善现代综合交通运输体系、促进产业结构升级，具有重要且深远的意义。