Township businesses in China delivered 884.6 billion USD worth of goods to foreign buyers for the first seven months of the year, rising 21.47 percent over the same period of last year.

The service sector has been increasingly significant in the township enterprises in China. The added value accounted for 20.57 percent according to the data for Jan.-July while the figure for the same period of the last year was 20.08 percent.

The records of the Ministry of Agriculture show that China's township enterprises generated added value of about 2.35 trillion yuan for the first seven months of the year, an increase of 12.39 percent over the same period of last year.

More details of the statistics of China's township businesses were released at a forum on this sector which plays an important role in absorbing surplus labor force in rural areas and serves as an important source of income growth for farmers.

Township enterprises in China employed 1.4 million surplus labor force in rural areas in the first half of the year and have hired 138 million so far. They contribute 35 percent of farmers' income.

Benefiting from the thriving township businesses, the per capita income of the farmers paid by the businesses has risen to 650 yuan (78.7 US dollars), 51 yuan more than the previous year. At the same time, the businesses paid a total of 611.6 billion yuan (74.04 billion US dollars) to employees, 10.31 percent more on a yearly basis.

The official responsible for the affairs of the township enterprises in Ministry of Agriculture confirmed that these businesses are the main recipient of surplus rural labor force in their transfer to the second and tertiary industries.

He urged township enterprises in China transform the growth model and innovate their systems faster. He stressed the necessity of sticking to the neo-industrialization process and upgrading the traditional industry with advanced technologies.

By People's Daily Online