Photo taken on Jan. 5, 2008 shows that a farmer named Phuntsok stir fries highland barley in Tibet's Doilungdeqen County. (Xinhua/Jokho) Photo Gallery>>>

by Sun Yunlong

    BEIJING, Dec. 28 (Xinhuanet) -- Tibet's industrial sector has made great headway in 2009 despite its weak foundation, a low standard for industrialization and unprecedented global financial crisis.

    Growing steadily

    The sector's added value is projected to reach 3.3 billion yuan (483.4 million U.S. dollars) in 2009 and the ratio of the industrial output value to the region's gross domestic product (GDP) has risen to 29.68 percent, according to Li Zhen, director of the Tibet Autonomous Regional Industry and Information Technology Department.

    The central and regional governments have made great efforts to keep economic growth in the region, including a stimulus package and preferential policies, the Tibet Daily reported.

    "We have achieved this year's goal for the region's economic development, that is, the ratio of the industrial sector increases by one percent each year during the Eleventh Five-Year Plan (2006-2010) period," Li said, adding: "The achievement is inseparable from the assistance and support of the governments."

Photo shows the 5100 Glacier Mineral Water produced in Tibet. The product has broken into the inland markets such as Beijing and Shanghai. (Photo Source: tibet.cn) Photo Gallery>>>

    Restructuring Industries

    By pursuing the national policy of prodding domestic demand and restructuring industries, the Regional Government has implemented the policy on the strategic restructuring of its industries and adhered to a new industrialization path this year.

    So far, Tibet has established an industrial structure with Tibetan characteristics. It has expanded such industries as mining, building materials, ethnic handcrafts and traditional Tibetan medicines as its pillar industries.

    Furthermore, Tibet has also tried to develop its electricity, animal by-products processing, food and beverage production.

    Twenty-five industrial projects have been approved by the State with a combined investment of 2.19 billion yuan in 2009, with the government financing totaling 112.52 million yuan.

    Upon completion, the projects will yield a total annual output value of four billion yuan.

    Tibet has been trying to make the best use of its advantages in natural resources by founding the Tibet Shengyuan Mining Group Corporation and Tibet Gaozheng Building Materials Company, each of which have a registered capital of 200 million yuan.

    With a target to launch five industrial groups next year, the region aims at upgrading its industrial structure and transforming the mode of its economic development.

    Developing with local and ethnic characteristics

    Tibet has focused on the development of local specialties. The pollution-free and original products on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau are fueling the region's economic engine.

    Increasing steadily are sales of products made in Tibet, such as Ganlu and Qizheng traditional Tibetan medicines, Gaozheng cement, Snowland (Xueyu) blankets, Lhasa beer and Shenglu edible oil.

    The 5100 Tibet Glacier Mineral Water became available in the Hong Kong SAR in March and the first batch of 11,340 boxes of highland barley beer brewed by Lhasa Beer Company was exported to the United States in May.

    To date, Tibet has built a national-level economic and technological development zone and four industrial parks at the county level, with 94 enterprises moving in. The fixed asset investment in the zone and parks came to 1.52 billion yuan and those enterprises, with 5,673 employees, have paid 100 million yuan in taxes to the government.

    Problems remain

    As one can see, Tibet has maintained a good momentum in its economic development despite problems.

    Tibet has a small industrial scale and a low industrialization rate at only seven percent, compared with the 47-percent national average.

    Tibet's products currently are quite low in the technological and value-added level, whereas restrictions in resources and the environment are becoming obstacles to its economic growth.

    More and more traditional industries should be upgraded with innovative and high technology, such as information technology.

    Statistics and problems show that Tibet is facing opportunities and challenges as well, but the tendency toward growth remains unchanged. A new industrialization path is considered the best operation for Tibet in future.