Since the beginning of 2024, the "low-altitude economy" has become a hot topic in Jiangmen. From the manufacturing of drone components, the extensive application of drones in agriculture, to low-altitude tourism experiences, Jiangmen is gradually exploring its own development path through the "low-altitude economy."

"Low-altitude" generally refers to airspace at a vertical distance of 1,000 meters or less from the ground directly below, which can be extended to 3,000 meters based on regional characteristics and actual needs. The low-altitude economy primarily relies on this segment of airspace and is driven by drones, unmanned aerial vehicles, flying cars, and others, involving various industries such as aerial commuting, air logistics, aerial tourism, and air management.

In recent years, the low-altitude economy in China has surged rapidly. International Digital Economy Academy released a white paper on the low-altitude economy, predicting that by 2025, the low-altitude economy will contribute a comprehensive value of 3 to 5 trillion yuan to China's national economy.

Reporters have observed that in recent years, signs of the low-altitude economy have emerged in various places in Jiangmen. For instance, in Jiangmen's Heshan and Enping, low-altitude tourism experience services with small planes and helicopters have appeared in recent years; drones are also widely used in agricultural production in Jiangmen.

In the manufacturing sector of Jiangmen, many enterprises have also set their sights on drones. Reporters learned that as early as 2022, Enping, a city governed by Jiangmen, actively introduced unmanned aerial vehicle manufacturing projects and worked to build a development pattern for the drone industry with "one park, three bases, four platforms, and four airspaces," laying a solid foundation for the development of the drone industry.

During the 2024 Chinese New Year, drone performances in various parts of Jiangmen, combined with fireworks shows, further heightened the festive atmosphere.

From application scenarios to the industrial chain, Jiangmen has a certain foundation for developing the "low-altitude economy." However, Cai Yong, vice principal of Jiangmen Polytechnic, also pointed out that currently, Jiangmen's drone manufacturing mainly focuses on components and is not in large quantity, failing to form a clustering effect. Additionally, many have noted that the application scenarios for drones in Jiangmen are relatively monotonous and have not yet scaled up, with the urgent need for the construction of general airports.

Cai Yong believes that Jiangmen should proactively strengthen industrial cooperation with Shenzhen, China's "Drone Capital," deepen the cross-city strategic layout of "Shenzhen Headquarters plus Jiangmen Base" and "Shenzhen R&D plus Jiangmen Production," improve planning and policy support, actively integrate into the Shenzhen industrial cluster, build high-end manufacturing application demonstration bases, promote the construction of drone specialty industrial parks in the Shenzhen-Jiangmen economic cooperation zone, and accelerate the formation of new growth points in Jiangmen's drone manufacturing.

Zhou Yuan, Member of Jiangmen Municipal Political Consultative Conference, suggested that Jiangmen should actively promote research on low-altitude fields and infrastructure construction, support the research and application of technologies such as autonomous driving and unmanned delivery; seize the strategic opportunity for innovative development in the low-altitude economy industry, strive to become a pilot area for low-altitude field management reform, and a civil unmanned aviation test zone.

探索“低空”飞行，江门打造经济发展新引擎

今年以来，“低空经济”成为了江门各界热议话题。从无人机零配件制造、无人机在农业领域广泛应用以及低空旅游体验，江门正逐步探索自己的“低空经济”发展之路。

“低空”通常指与正下方地平面垂直距离在1000米以内的空域，根据不同地区特点和实际需要可延伸至3000米。而低空经济，主要也是以这部分空域为依托的经济活动，以无人机、无人驾驶航空器、飞行汽车等为牵引，涉及空中通勤、空中物流、空中旅游、空中管理等众多行业。

近年来，我国低空经济的发展大潮十分迅猛。粤港澳大湾区数字经济研究院发布的低空经济白皮书预测，到2025年，低空经济对我国国民经济的综合贡献值将达3万亿至5万亿元。

记者观察发现，近年来，江门各地低空经济苗头显现。如江门鹤山、恩平等地，这几年陆续出现了以小型飞机、直升机为载具的低空旅游体验服务；在江门农业生产中，无人机应用也十分广泛。

而在江门的制造业领域，也有不少企业把目光瞄准无人机。记者了解到，早在2022年，恩平就积极引入无人飞行器制造项目，并着力构建“一园三基地四平台四空域”无人机产业发展格局，为无人机产业发展夯实基础。

今年春节期间，江门各地的无人机表演配合烟花秀，更是将过年气氛进一步拉升。

从应用场景到产业链，江门发展“低空经济”具备了一定基础。但江门职业技术学院副校长蔡勇也指出，目前，江门在无人机生产制造方面以零部件为主，数量不多，未能形成集聚效应。此外也有不少人士指出，江门的无人机应用场景还比较单调，且尚未形成规模，通用机场建设也亟待提速。

蔡勇认为，江门应主动加强与中国“无人机之都”深圳的产业合作，深化“深圳总部+江门基地”“深圳研发+江门生产”的跨市战略组合布局，完善规划和政策支持，主动融入深圳产业集群、建设高端制造应用示范基地，推动深江经济合作区建设无人机特色产业园，加快形成江门无人机制造新增长点。

江门市政协委员周渊则建议，江门应积极推动低空领域及低空基础设施建设等相关课题研究，支持自动驾驶、无人驾驶配送等技术研发应用；抢抓低空经济产业创新发展的战略机遇期，争创低空领域管理改革试点区、民用无人驾驶航空试验区。

文丨记者 陈卓栋
图丨受访者提供
翻译丨郑圣浩