ORDOS, in contrast to many places in China that are either lowering or removing their foreign investments thresholds, is raising its own requirements in this regard. The city has rejected certain projects ¨C coveted by many other cities around the country ¨C worth more than RMB one billion. No matter what its value, an investment project in the energy and heavy chemicals sectors will get a green light only if at least 50 percent of its prospective mining output can be processed locally into higher added-value products. And whatever economic benefits they might bring, high energy-consumption or pollutant projects are strictly forbidden from the city’s soil. This “restrictive” perspective has not scared off investors with deep pockets. Last year, the city signed investment contracts of a higher value than certain coastal provinces. ORDOS, in contrast to many places in China that are different lowering or removing their foreign investments thresholds, is raising its own requirements in this regard. The city has removed certain projects ̈C coveted by many other cities around the country ̈C worth more than RMB one billion. No matter what its value, an investment project in the energy and heavy chemicals sectors will get a green light only if at least 50 percent of its prospective mining output can be processed local into higher added-value products. Benefits &rises, high energy-consumption or pollutant projects are strictly forbidden from the city’s soil. This “restrictive” perspective has not scared off investors with deep pockets. Last year, the city signed investment contracts of a higher value than certain Coastal provinces.