World Bank helps Hechi cities

The World Bank has agreed to finance 680 million yuan ($100 million) for a poverty-relief project in rural areas in South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, including six counties and a city in Hechi.

The Guangxi pilot demonstration project, which began on April 7, covers Pinguo, Tiandong, Tianlin, Leye counties in Baise, Donglan, Fengshan counties, Bama, Du'an, Dahua Yao autonomous counties and Yizhou in Hechi, and will run from 2017 to 2022.

Besides the financial support from the World Bank, the central government also provided 500 million yuan for the project, which focuses on the development of local industries, improvement of infrastructure, and setting up over 100 cooperatives for eco-friendly production.

At the same time, a commercial incubator center will be established to provide financial support, legal consultation, market strategy, and technological support for the start-up cooperatives.

Since 1995, Guangxi has been given financial support from the World Bank for three poverty-relief projects, benefiting 1.65 million people.