Opportunities in China "unprecedented" for SMEs
( 2003-11-30 10:14) (Xinhua)
Government support and rapid
economic growth offer "unprecedented" scope for small and medium-sized
enterprises (SME) to develop in China, said a senior official Saturday.
This year, the Chinese government has for the first time allocated 50 million
yuan (6 million US dollars) to promote the development of SMEs, said Chen
Yanhai, deputy director of the SME department of the State Development and
Reform Commission.
The government has decided the special fund to help implement the law on
promoting SME development be one of the important items in the fiscal budget for
2004, Chen said at a forum on the development of China's SMEs.
The commission will also offer more support for SME development by
formulating favorable policies and ensuring adequate funds, he said.
In the commission's institutional reform early this year, the functions of
its SME department was expanded so that it is also responsible for administering
and serving SMEs.
Chen said China's rapid economic growth, increasing fixed assets investment,
smooth progress in key infrastructure projects and reforms, and rising consumer
demand are all factors of a sound environment for SME development. The country's
efforts to open wider to the outside world and further relax state monopoly in
more industries also provide conditions for this purpose.
The official revealed that the commission has finished the drafting of a
document for accelerating the development of the private sector. The stated
major purpose of the document is to urge government departments at all levels to
create a "free, fair and competitive" external environment for the development
of SMEs.
In China, there are 3.02 million SMEs that produce half of the country's
gross domestic product. They also contribute to 60 percent of the country's
exports and 43 percent of the tax revenue.
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