(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-11-29 07:28

Farmers from Taiwan looking to establish a business on the mainland can now benefit from a range of preferential policies, an official with the State Administration for Industry and Commerce said Wednesday.

Pan Haimin said those who want to set up in one of the cross-Straits agricultural cooperation experimental zones or business incubator parks for farmers, can now apply direct to the appropriate county or city administration for industry and commerce.

Speaking at a press conference held by the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, he said compared to the general policy on registering Taiwan companies, the system for farmers is extremely simple.

"Local administrations will approve qualified applicants without them having to get approval from overseas fund administrations on the mainland," Pan said.

"Also, the new policies have no minimum registered capital requirements," he said.

Other Taiwan-based companies seeking to open on the mainland must first get approval from the overseas fund administrations and there are requirements for minimum registered capital, he said.

According to the policies, which will go into effect on Saturday, farmers can engage in planting, aquatic breeding, animal and poultry farming, agricultural product processing, export and import of agricultural products, and exchanges and promotion of agricultural technology.

Currently, 11 provinces have established cross-Straits agricultural cooperation experimental zones and four provinces and municipalities have set up business incubator parks for Taiwan farmers.

Pan said the local administrations of commerce and industry will offer free consultations on the new policies and people can also log on to the website of the state administration www.saic.gov.cn for more information.

Also at yesterday's press conference, Fan Liqing, spokeswoman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, urged the Japanese government to deal with the release of German Mark bonds held by Taiwan residents more quickly and with greater effort.

Fan said the Japanese government is responsible for paying back the bonds that were issued in the 1920s.

In 1923, many Taiwan residents were forced by the then Japanese colonial government on the island to buy the bonds, which promised to pay back the principal sums with interest in 50 years' time, Fan said.

She said representatives of the Chinese Foreign Ministry met recently with officials from the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and insisted Japan pay back the bonds.

Xinhua