Hainan goals: GDP growth, poverty alleviation

Hainan province outlined its economic and social development goals for 2016, including GDP growth of nearly 8 percent and poverty alleviation for 180,000 rural residents, on Tuesday at the start of the fourth session of the Fifth Hainan People’s Congress.

Liu Cigui, the province governor, delivered a government work report that forecast provincial economic and social development for the year. Local general public budget revenue is expected to grow by 8 percent, fixed investments by 10 percent and total volume of retail sales of consumer goods by 8.5 percent. Urban incomes are projected to grow by 7 percent and rural incomes by 8.5 percent.

The consumer price index is expected to grow around 3.5 percent.

Urban jobs are projected to increase by more than 90,000. The registered unemployment rate in cities and towns is expected to fall below 4 percent.

Liu said the Hainan province economy maintained steady growth in 2015, despite downward pressure and a shortage of electricity. The GDP in 2015 reached 370.28 billion yuan ($56.2 billion), an increase of 7.8 percent.