China has been the world leader in the drone manufacturing industry with their companies boasting some of the most advanced technology in the industry. The Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) is on the front line in making this industry even bigger and better through regulations and support.

Made in China 2025

This rallying call by MIIT is one of the many efforts being carried out by the Chinese government to make their “Made in China 2025” strategy a reality. This is a blueprint for upgrading the manufacturing sector of the world’s second-biggest economy that began in 2015. The sectors being targeted by this blueprint include the Internet of Things, consumer electronics and smart appliances. China aims to grow its drone manufacturing sector to a total output of $27 billion by the year 2025 from its current output of just over $2 billion.

In the year 2016, China’s 350 drone manufacturing companies produced over 2.2 million units for civilian use, cementing China’s position as the world’s largest manufacturer of consumer drones. Of these, 70% were exported. DJI Technology is the world leader in the sale of consumer drones. With a market share of 70%, this company which is based in Shenzhen is the most recognized brand in this sector.

The Ambitious Plan

The MIIT is aiming to broaden the market for civilian drones by increasing their applications and use in various industries. Some of these industries include emergency response, travel and logistics, geographical mapping and agriculture. It has called on the leading players in this industry to use their advanced technology to develop drone applications that will revolutionize these sectors. In agriculture, drones are already being used widely for crop health monitoring, crop scouting, plant stress monitoring and drought assessment.

China also plans to enact regulations that offer benefits for drone manufacturers. In an ambitious move, the Chinese government plans to put in place and amend more than 200 laws that govern the field of drone manufacturing, from research to production and the safety regulations that govern the industry.

This is amidst calls by the public for the government to enact more stringent regulations to govern this sector which is expected to grow by over 40% by 2020. Other measures that the government are putting in place include encouraging and offering assistance to colleges to set up drone-related courses as well as establishing a national association of drone manufacturers.  Over the next few years, we can expect to see huge growth in the drone marketplace.

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