Beijing-based Capital Iron and Steel Group, one of China's top producers of iron and steel, signed a contract to purchase a 1,500-mu (100-hectare) plot for real estate development in Zhengzhou, capital of Central China's Henan Province, Guangming Daily reported.
The group will develop 150,000 square metres of high- and middle-end villas and 900,000 square meters of residential properties on the site with a total investment of 1.8 billion yuan (US$216.87 million), the paper said.
The group plans a gradual change from steel production to high-tech industry, real estate and service sectors during the country's 10th Five-Year Plan period (2001-2005).
Capital Iron and Steel board chairman Luo Bingsheng said the group expected real estate revenue to reach five billion yuan (US$602.41 million) by 2005, accounting for about 10 percent of its total sales revenue.
(People's Daily February 25, 2002)
