He Keng, vice chairman of Finance and Economic Committee of the National People's Congress, writes an inscription with a Chinese brush for the international platform for energy conservation and environmental protection in central and western regions, Jan 19, 2014. [Photo by He Yini / chinadaily.com.cn]

According to Hao Yuan, vice governor of Gansu province, the output value of the energy-saving and environmental protection industries is predicted to hit 50 trillion yuan ($8.26 trillion) in 2015, and will grow at an annual rate of more than 15 percent in years to come.

"Energy-saving and environmental protection industries could be a new growth engine for Gansu province in years to come, if we really create an equal environment for companies as the major player in the industries," said Wang Yuqing, deputy director of Committee of Population, Resources and Environment, pointing out that environmental protection is an industry that's largely hinged on government policies.

However, local companies in the province have been scrambling to scale up along the years, largely because they lack enough political and financial support, according to Wang.

"We are very much willing to think big and work hard to push forward the transformation, but we need help," said Niu Yunfei, chairman of Gansu Hongxinyuan Energy-saving Environmental Protection Co Ltd, a local company that provides comprehensive energy-saving services.

"If we get more support from our government, chances are we could get more money from our investors. That's when our businesses will start to take off." he added.

He vowed to establish an international platform for energy conservation and environmental protection in central and western regions in three years, in a bid to help facilitate local firms to find investors in the industries, and vice versa.

"We hope this platform could better coordinate all kinds of resources in the industries, and bring in more opportunities for the regions," said Jon Li, IEEPA's secretary general.

Participants of the International High-level Energy Conservation & Environmental Protection Industries Promotion Conference of the Central and Western Regions, or IPCW, pose for pictures at the conference room in Lanzou, Gansu province. [Photo by He Yini / chinadaily.com.cn]