Gansu start-up company drives employment

Zhang Yanyan (middle), the founder of the embroidery handcrafts manufacturer, Jinxiuhang, stitches a piece with her employees on May 17. [Photo/xinhuanet.com]

The government of Huachi town in Northwest China's Gansu province is making efforts to encourage locals to start their own businesses, bringing new job opportunities to thousands of locals.

One such company is Jinxiuhang, an embroidery handcrafts manufacturer that was established in 2013. The company has provided jobs for around 300 women in the rural area and provides annual training. To help employees balance work and family life, the company allows them to work from home. The start-up enterprise has helped reduce the level of poverty among locals and has helped some women to open their own embroidery shops.

Customers purchase embroidery handicrafts at Jinxiuhang. [Photo/xinhuanet.com]

Zhang Yanyan, Jinxiuhang's founder, received 300,000 yuan ($48,390) of government guaranteed loans and a free business premises when she started her business. In order to support start-up companies, the government of Huachi town government has made available small loans to those wishing to start a business.

The products made at Zhang's company, such as sachets, cross-stitch works and embroidered slippers have been sold across the country and appeal specifically to customers in Shanghai and Fujian province.

Edited by Jacob Hooson