One high-tech project broke ground while another four began operations Tuesday in the Guangzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone.

The five projects involve an investment of US$160 million and they are expected to yield a gross industrial output value of 2.1 billion yuan (US$253.01 million) annually.

With an investment of 280 million yuan (US$33.73 million), Guangdong New Face Laser Co Ltd, a private high-tech enterprise, broke ground yesterday, aiming to become one of China's leading suppliers of compact discs with an annual output value exceeding 300 million yuan (US$36.14 million).

The four enterprises becoming operational were PepsiCo Beverages (Guangzhou) Ltd, Germany-invested SEW Eurodrive (Guangzhou) Co Ltd, Taiwanese-invested Delton Electronics Inc and Longma Optical Technology Co (Guangzhou).

With an investment of US$29.50 million, PepsiCo Beverages (Guangzhou) Ltd is the US giant's first non-carbonic beverage production base as well as Pepsi's largest non-carbonic beverage production base in Asia.

SEW Eurodrive (Guangzhou) Co Ltd involves an investment of US$12 million and specializes in electrical motors, geared motors and frequency control equipment.

With an investment of US$75 million, Delton Electronics Inc produces high-density interconnection printed boards.

And with an investment of 126 million yuan (US$125.18 million), Longma Optical Technology Co (Guangzhou) is a base of Tsinghua University's optical technology laboratory, specializing in research and development as well as production of optical storage technology products.

(China Daily December 31, 2003)