Guizhou aims to become big data hub

"Guizhou is betting on big data bringing the region more lower-stream businesses and services that are important for its development. It is possible for the region to leapfrog, economically taking advantage of big data industry," Wu said.

The nation's three leading telecommunication carriers are building cloud computing facilities in Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou, with accumulated investment of more than 15 billion yuan.

The city's government said it will set up a number of cloud-based services, including intelligent transportation, logistics, tourism, e-commerce and food security.

"Big data is becoming a new strategically important technology for China," said Minister of Industry and Information Technology Miao Wei.

"China is ready to further develop big data industry because of the quick implementation of cloud in the Internet market," Miao said. Because Guizhou's urbanization and industrialization processes are at a high time, Miao added, timing could be good for introducing big data projects to accelerate the province's growth.

Turnover of data analytics-related businesses in Guiyang is projected to hit 54 billion yuan by 2016, according to a local government estimate.

The amount represents about 30 percent of the total output of the city's information technology industry.

About 200 big data companies will be located in the city because of lower taxes and electricity prices.

But according to Jack Ma, chairman of the world's largest e-commerce giant, Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, the advantage of Guizhou is not cheap electricity.

"Future competition in the Internet sector is how far can you see rather than how cheap your energies are," said Ma.

"Data economy is the future of information technology. As one of the first regions to develop cloud and big data businesses, Guizhou edges other regions in talent recruiting," he said.

Guiyang said it will lure more than 5,000 people into the big data sector over the next three years.