The improvement of quality and diversity in Beijing of the quick-breakfast, also known as the "Breakfast Project", is among the 60 key projects the Beijing municipal government aims to concentrate on this year, the paper says.

Since the hot-line for tender invitation was launched recently, about 100 people have called in every day for consultation, Beijing Municipal Commerce Commission officials said, adding that overseas investors have shown particular interest.

In a telephone conversation, an overseas businessman said that he is considering making an investment of over 100 million yuan (about US$12 million).

Ten Taiwanese investors will soon be coming to Beijing to make on-the-spot investigations before making a final decision. Though highly competitive, the quick-breakfast market in Beijing is still turning out to be profitable, the officials said, citing informal statistics which show that daily sales could reach 13 million yuan provided each Beijing resident spends two yuan on breakfast.

Many investors from Jiangxi, Guizhou and other provinces have also called in, saying they hope to introduce their local special food to the capital's breakfast market, according to the paper.

(People's Daily January 16, 2002)