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Pillar-industry Status for Beijing Garment Industry

China's capital plans to make garment manufacturing a pillar industry in coming years. Beijing Municipal Foreign Economic and Trade Commission says plans for the development of an international-class garment production town will soon be released, China Daily reported. According to the commission, Beijing currently has almost 1,400 clothing manufacturers, some of which are large-scale producers. Much of their output ends up in the bustling shopping areas of Xidan and Wangfujing, where the garments attract consumers from both neighboring and distant cities.

Beijing's healthy industrial base and huge potential market give the plan credence, and will also promote the city's image and create more job opportunities in related industries.

The plan calls for four garment-production bases to be established along the fifth and sixth ring roads, with preferential policies accorded to 10 top brands to expand their businesses. Also planned are three retail clothing streets for different downtown areas. Beijing will earmark six million yuan (US$723,000) each year for the next six years to upgrade technology and host international design contests and exhibition.