The Dream Factory of China

Source :Qianhai Communication Center

The per capita disposable income of residents in the Eighth Community of the Overseas Chinese Administrative District, a poverty-stricken area in Shanwei City, exceeded 17,000 yuan (US$2,403) last year, 70 percent above the 8,266-yuan poverty line in Guangdong Province, thanks to aid from the Qianhai Cooperation Zone Authority over the past four years.

The Qianhai authority has invested a total of 10.63 billion yuan on the infrastructure in the Eighth Community and in supporting the development of local industries in order to help lift local residents out of poverty.

The Qianhai authority has introduced a number of Shenzhen companies to invest in the Eighth Community, employing local residents. It has also invested 2 million yuan in building a flower base, which has delivered seasonal flowers worth 1.3 million yuan to its Qianhai clients last year.

“Helping local residents get on their own feet has always been the fundamental way to help lift the community out of poverty,” said Chen Wentao, a senior official of the Qianhai authority.

He said his team has also set up an e-commerce platform and introduced Shenzhen-based professionals specialized in online business operation to help local manufacturers sell local agricultural produce and other locally made products.

Residents in the Eighth Community now have new roads and a new drainage system after years of efforts by Chen’s team on improving local infrastructure.

Chen said there were only mud roads when he first set foot in the Eighth Community four years ago. “When it rained, the roads became so muddy that traffic was basically halted.”

Education is also vital to poverty alleviation, Chen said.

The Qianhai authority has initiated a scholarship program to offer financial assistance to 50 local students in their education.

The students have so far received a total of over 300,000 yuan in financial aid. And each local college students has been given 10,000 yuan as a subsidy to cover their tuition fees.