2004-03-02

The import and export value of thenon-state sector in northwest China's Gansu Province last year exceeded 100 million US dollars for the first time in history, according to customs statistics released here recently.

The figure accounted for 9.2 percent of the total foreign tradevalue in Gansu. The sector gained an export value of 92.48 millionUS dollars last year, an all time high.

Of the total foreign trade value, one third, or 35.44 million dollars was gained by the collectively-owned enterprises, three times more than the previous year. The import and export value secured by privately-owned enterprises came to 68.35 million dollars, a rise of 13 times.

Outlining the characteristics of foreign trade by the non-statesector, a customs official said general trade was dominant with the total value reaching 92.99 million dollars, or 90 percent of the total.

The number of enterprises each having an import and export value of more than 1 million dollars rose to 18, making up 32 percent of the registered enterprises.

The variety of commodities for import and export has increased with minerals, base metal, textiles and farm produce adding to both import and export lists.