SMEs to benefit

THE Provincial Finance Department will appropriate 310 million yuan ($45 million), 160 million yuan ($23 million) for export tax refund in seven categories such as construction, ceramics and iron and steel products, textiles and garment, plastics, toys, suitcase and shoes, 0.5 million yuan ($72,900) for expanding markets in Southeast Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, East Europe, Russia and other regions, and 100 million yuan ($14.6 million) for promoting independent brand and hi-tech products export. Foreign-trade or production-based small- and medium-enterprises (SMEs) will be the biggest beneficiaries, an official from the municipal Foreign Trade & Economic Cooperation Department noted.