The environmental protection industry of Beijing will achieve 11.5
billion yuan (US$1.39 billion) in output value by 2005, with an
average annual increasing rate of 18 percent, a growth rate two
times that of the national GDP over the same period. Beijing will
develop 10-15 major environmental protection enterprises, each with
an annual output value of over 100 million yuan (US$12 million),
and three to five enterprise groups, each with an annual output
value of 1 billion yuan (US$120 million).
Up
to date, Beijing has 800-odd registered enterprises in the sector,
of which 300 are in business operation, generating a total output
value of 1.2 billion yuan (US$144.9 million).
Though the industry is not yet of large scale, Beijing boasts
environment-protection professionals, technologies and information.
So far, the city has an output value of 5 billion yuan (US$604
million) from its environmental protection industry, including 1
billion yuan (US$120 million) from environmental service, 1.1
billion yuan (US$133 million) from environmental equipment, and 2.7
billion yuan (US$326 million) out of comprehensive resource
utilization. Non-governmental enterprises account for a noticeable
percentage.
From 2003 to 2007, Beijing will invest 45 billion yuan (US$5.4
billion) in environmental protection and treatment. Adding to the
46 billion yuan (US$5.55 billion) invested in the period from 1998
to 2002, the city’s total input in the decade will reach 90 billion
yuan (US$10.87 billion).
By
2007, Beijing’s environment will improve strikingly. The forest
coverage will increase to 50 percent. Urban garage will be treated
pollution-free, while 90 percent sewage will be treated and heavily
polluting enterprises will be removed out of the city proper.
By
2005, the urban land used for industry will be reduced to less than
7 percent. It is estimated that each yuan (US$0.12) put into
Beijing’s environmental improvement will generate 0.5 yuan
(US$0.06) from the production of environment-protection equipment.
The 2008 Olympic Games is expected to help generate 22.5 billion
yuan (US$2.72 billion) in the industry.
(China.org.cn by Guo Xiaohong, February 6, 2003)