The private sector in the Tibet Autonomous Region, is playing an increasingly important role in the region's economy, after rapid development in the past few years.
According to the regional administration for industry and commerce, there are 43,000 private businesses with 69,000 employees in Tibet. Their tax payments made up 13.5 percent of the region's total tax revenue for the year 2000, when the gross sales of the private sector reached 1.99 billion yuan (about US$240 million).
Private businesses in Tibet are involved in a variety of areas covering communications, agricultural development, intermediary services, investment consulting, real estate and e-commerce, while their size has kept expanding, according to local officials.
To promote the development the private sector, the local government has promulgated a series of preferential policies in terms of employees, business scope, operating modes and licensing. Farmers and herdsmen are encouraged to start their own businesses.
(People's Daily 04/07/2001)
