'Key Projects of Urban Development' kicks off
By Wang Hongjun (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2004-05-25 17:30

Beijing pledges to improve the investment environment for domestic and foreign investors in urban infrastructure construction in the run-up to the 2008 Olympics Games, announced Liu Zhi, vice-director of Development and the Planning Committee of the Beijing Municipal Government, at the Key Projects of Urban Development Promotion, which was kicked off May 24 at the Swissotel in Beijing.

Liu said Beijing is building a platform for investment and fund-raising for the city's infrastructure construction. The platform includes "Invest in Beijing" magazine, Bjinvest gov.cn and an investment institution.

The city is also planning to liberalize the fund-raising markets in a bid to minimize the government's financial burden. Liu also added that the amount of funds raised via the market in 2003 reached 5 billion yuan (US$600 million), accounting for more than 80 percent of the total funds raised.

The city is taking measures to speed up infrastructural construction in the investment environment. Apart from a franchising scheme, an investment compensation fund is also in the works. In addition, a current feasibility study will also modify service pricing of the city's infrastructural projects.

Beijing urban industry

Beijing should make the most of the advantages the city has to offer in terms of market capacity, culture, human resources and the coming Olympics to further the development of such sectors as costumes, food (including drinks, dairy and health-care products), printing and packaging, and arts and crafts, according to Chang Qing, vice-director general of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Industrial Development.

She said Beijing will introduce brands from outside the city and nurture its own brands in the sectors. The scale of investment will be greatly expanded to boost the total volume in the urban industry.
 
A service platform will be established to meet enterprise demands for a better investment environment. Besides, the role of intermediary organizations, such as the China National Garment Association, should be strengthened to improve the related industries.

High-tech companies from Gansu Province seek cooperation

High-tech companies from Northwest China's Gansu Province also showcased  their latest products in electronic transportation and waste-water disposal.

Lanzhou Jeff Bio-environmental Project Co Ltd, which specializes in waste-water treatment, said the company has also succeeded in a waste-water disposal project in Beijing, according to company General Manager Cui Shusheng.

Cui said the company's ABFT treatment process for removing nitrogen and phosphor from waste water had been listed as one of the National Technical Development Plans since 2002.

Cui added that the company is looking for cooperation and a capital injection to further utilize its ABFT treatment process.