Li Zhanshu, vice-governor of Heilongjiang Province in Northeast China, will pay visits to the United Kingdom and France in late June and early July respectively, seeking investment from abroad.
"Our province enjoys unique advantages and provides great business opportunities to investors," Li said.
The province's crude oil reserves account for a half of China's total. It also has 22.7 billion tons of proven reserves of coal, 1.37 billion cubic metres of forest reserves, and abundant grain and animal husbandry products.
It boasts abundant power resources with stable supplies at a low cost.
A number of universities and colleges and scientific research institutes make the scientific and technological strength of the province among the best in China, Li said.
He added, there are a lot of highly skilled management and sales professionals, as well as well-trained technicians. At the same time, labour costs are considered fairly low.
After the Central Government's decision to revitalize traditional industrial bases in Northeast China, Heilongjiang Province has gained stronger support in terms of taxation, agriculture and social security, Li pointed out.
"Heilongjiang is actively optimising its investment environment to provide investors with high-quality and efficient services," Li said.
Investment attraction
Foreign investors are encouraged to participate in the reform of State-owned enterprise in Heilongjiang Province, Li said.
The State-owned economy takes up a considerable proportion in the province.
Foreign investors are welcome to make investments in areas such as equipment, medicine, petrochemicals, energy, forestry processing and tourism.
Agriculture is another main investment attraction in the province, Li said.
Located on one of the three famous "Black Earth Belts" in the world, Heilongjiang Province is a main grain base in the country. It has the nation's largest area of arable land.
Li said the soils are so fertile that they are suitable for the growth of different crops such as soybean, corn and rice.
"Presently, we are determined to develop a modern agricultural industry," Li said.
He added overseas investors are welcome to establish modern farms, or to establish enterprises for food processing, chemicals and pharmaceuticals based on grain processing; or to deal in agricultural sideline product production, animal breeding and the development of agricultural technologies.
The vice-governor also listed tourism as one of the main fields for investment.
Situated in the northern region, the province is well known for its winter tourism.
It has 75 ski resorts including the Yabuli Ski Resort, the largest international ski centre in Asia, making it an ideal place for ski tourism.
The world-known Harbin Ice and Snow Festival, an annual tourist event, attracts a great influx of tourists from both home and abroad in winter.
"It should be noted that the 2009 Winter Universiade will be held in Harbin," Li pointed out.
In summer, the province is also popular with tourists due to its cool climate, with an average temperature of 18 degrees.
"However, due to a shortage of operational experience, the local tourism market has not been fully developed yet, and won't be able to satisfy the fast-growing tourist market," Li said.
"We welcome investors to the tourist sector, to explore the huge potential of the market."
Industrial corridor
The Harbin-Daqing-Qiqihar Industrial Corridor, a key industrial zone linking the three cities in the province, is under construction, according to Vice-Governor Li.
Covering an area of 900 square kilometres, the industrial corridor focuses on such industries as equipment manufacturing, petrochemicals, food, pharmaceuticals, the high-tech industry, and modern logistics.
To advance the development of the industrial corridor, favourable policies on land use, financing and taxation will be provided, Li said.
And authorities will extend support to investors in the industrial corridor in science, technology and human resources. |
