Published by: World Tibet Network News, Sunday, May 26 1996

LHASA (May 24) XINHUA - Tibet Autonomous Region's capital Lhasa will score rapid economic growth over the next 15 years, according to a city plan for economic and social development.

Lhasa Mayor Losang Jamcan has vowed to lead the 400,000 Lhasa residents in turning the wealth-generating plan into a reality.

During the 1996-2000 period Lhasa's gross domestic product (the value of goods and services produced) will grow at an annual rate of 15 percent, in accordance with the plan adopted by the City People's Congress earlier this month.

The city's GDP is projected at one billion yuan in the year 2000 and its per-capita GDP will quadruple the 1980 figure.

In the year 2010, Lhasa's GDP will soar to 3.2 billion yuan and its per-capita GDP will double the 2000 figure.

Mayor Losang said that this year the city government will begin to pursue the policy of invigorating Lhasa by means of science and technology and opening up.

He said, "Over the next 15 years we will continue to strengthen agriculture and livestock breeding as the foundation of the economy, and speed up construction of transport, energy telecommunications facilities."

He added that the city will concentrate on expanding six pillar industries including mining, tourism, building materials and farm and animal by-product processing.

Enditem 24/05/96 07:55 GMT