Mainland business zone for Taiwan farmers approved
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-04-17 10:19 China's Ministry of
Agriculture and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council have approved a
business development zone for Taiwan farmer investors in eastern Fujian
Province.
"Through the zone, Taiwan farmers will have then opportunity tocarry out
cross-Strait business initiation and development," Wang Jianwen, vice-director
of the zone's administration commission, said Sunday.
Located at the Changqiao Agricultural Technique Cooperation Center, the zone
will cover 10,000 mu (666.7 hectares), including an industrial base for storage
and processing of farming produce, two centers featuring technical services and
research, as well as accommodation and a field for ecological agriculture
trials.
Construction of the zone in Zhangpu County started in January last year and
will be completed in two years.
More than 20 delegations have visited the zone and 12 have set up businesses
with an investment of 15 million US dollars. Their projects include flower and
orchard cultivations, and food processing.
The director of Taiwan Affairs Office of Fujian urged local governments in
the province to promote exchanges and cooperation with investors in a bid to
improve cross-Strait economic development.
The mainland's 15 new beneficial policies for promoting economic and trade
relations were announced Saturday at the closing ceremony of the two-day
Cross-Strait Economic and Trade Forum.
The package comprises three sets of policies directly stipulated by the State
Council and 12 formulated by central government departments.
The State Council policies included adding four new varieties to an import
list of Taiwan-grown fruits, bringing the total to 22;adopting a zero-tax on
imports of 11 varieties of vegetables; increasing imports of aquatic products,
with a zero-tax on some; and allowing Taiwan fishing boats to enjoy equality
with mainland boats on sales of their catches.
Under the other new policies, Taiwan investors will be allowed to set up
joint venture hospitals on the mainland with local partners, while retaining as
much as 70 percent of the stake.
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