Crafts for the global market

The value of Jilin's culture industry has grown more than 17 percent annually, since 2006.

By 2008, nearly 5 percent of its GDP was from that industry, and that figure is expected to reach more than 6 percent under the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015), according to provincial officials.

The province had a number of culture-related events last year. One of these was the Northeast Asia Culture and Art week, in September, a part of the Northeast Asia Expo. A total of 1.62 billion yuan worth of culture-related contracts were signed during the expo.

The province is encouraging local folk handicrafts people to "get into the global market" and many local products have cultivated a reputation, such as the Songhua inkstones and Yuping puppets.

It is also encouraging local companies to get listed if possible. According to a Changchun government document, "Small-and mid-sized technology companies can get on the growth enterprise board," not just the big, major corporations.

"Listed companies will play a crucial role in improving the industrial structure and scale, and cultural prosperity," said Sun Zhengcai, Jilin's Party chief.

"So, the government should do everything possible to help companies get listed and improve the financial services."

(China Daily 03/23/2011 page14)