New rural home appliance plan debated

The Ministry of Industrial and Information Technology is considering launching a follow-up to the "home appliances to the countryside" policy as the existing one is about to expire.

The Department of Electronic Information and the Department of Consumer Goods Industry under the ministry held a meeting recently to discuss the plan.

Those in attendance said the policy achieved the anticipated results of "stimulating domestic demand and stabling economic growth". They also put forward follow-up suggestions.

The current home appliances to the countryside policy, which began in 2007, will expire in January. Whether the policy continues or not is being debated.

Industry insiders said a similar policy is very possible but not the same as the current one. Subsidies to buy energy-efficient appliances may be the focus of any future policy.

mengfanbin@chinadaily.com.cn