Tibet looks to develop new subcenter for Lhasa

A total of 4 billion yuan ($581 million) is set to be invested in 12 projects in the Tibet autonomous region's Konggang New District this year.

Centered on Lhasa Gongkar International Airport, about 56 kilometers southwest of the region's capital, the new district was established in 2015 with the aim of becoming a modern logistics and service industry hub.

Projects to be undertaken include an expansion of the airport so that it can handle 9 million passengers and 80,000 metric tons of cargo by 2025; the construction of roads; sand stabilization; and quinoa planting and chicken breeding programs.

"Eventually, we will build the district into a subcenter of Lhasa," said Cui Jianyong, director of the Konggang New District Administrative Committee.

Du Qi, an official with the committee, said projects such as quinoa planting had already proven effective at generating more money for the area.

More than 60 hectares of quinoa were planted last year, helping the district's 23 poverty-stricken households earn 5,000 yuan each, according to the committee.

Another 25 hectares of quinoa are set to be planted this year, Du said.

In all, the government plans to invest more than 15 billion yuan in the district during the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-20), the committee said.