Beijing has unveiled new policies to encourage the establishment of neighborhood convenience stores in an effort to ensure that there is at least one mini-supermarket or convenience store in every neighborhood.
According to the policies issued on Wednesday by the Commerce Commission in cooperation with the Beijing Finance Bureau, Beijing is encouraging the establishment of chain-supermarkets (about 500 sq m) and convenience stores (100 sq m) in residential neighborhoods.
Liang Wei, director of the commission, said the commission also favors the establishment of standard convenience stores in busy commercial districts of urban Beijing, such as the Wangfujingand Zhongguancun areas.
Enterprises will be given 50,000 yuan (US$6,097 US dollars) in subsidized loans for each convenience store or supermarket successfully set up in residential neighborhoods.
For each store set up in cooperation with other businesses, the enterprises will be given 25,000 yuan (3,048 US dollars) in subsidized loans.
Businesses providing logistic support for the shops in question will also be eligible for subsidized loans.
The commission plans to raise the total number of mini-supermarkets and convenience stores in Beijing to 1,500 by the end of 2003.
During the first five months of this year, major chain supermarkets set up 415 outlets, and the city's 10 major chain convenience stores set up 260 outlets during the first six months of this year.
(Xinhua News Agency July 10, 2003)
