Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region's gross domestic product increased 12 percent to 206 billion yuan (US$33 billion) in 2011, according to a recent news briefing held by the regional government.

Last year, growth of the tertiary industry slowed due to aggressive policies on real estate and banking, said Xu Xiumei, statistician-general with Ningxia Bureau of Statistics.

However, the raw materials and construction industries saw rapid growth, contributing 55.2 percent to the regional GDP growth, Xu said.

Of the region's 14 industrial sections, two traditional pillar industries, coal and electric power contributes 74.1 percent to the regional industrial growth.

In 2011, exports of natural resource products fell while local specialty products, hi-tech, mechanical and electrical products saw vigorous growth in terms of exports.

The provincial government also said it faces more challenges in developing energy-efficient and low-carbon economy because the region's energy-guzzling industries take a large share.