A fair to highlight hot investment projects in China opened on Saturday, in Changchun, capital of Northeast China's Jilin Province.

The fair, the first of its kind to be held in the region, is designed to "help solve the serious unemployment problem," said Gu Zhibo, secretary-general of the Jilin General Chamber of Commerce.

Organizers of the two-day fair have invited many successful entrepreneurs and experts around the country to give lectures and consultation on business start-ups.

The projects up for bid are mostly focused on eight areas, including service, education and food.

Initial capital ranges from 2,000 yuan (US$240) to 20 million yuan (US$2.4 million), according to the organizing committee. And there are more than 30,000 investors and institutions from home and abroad that have registered to take part.

Statistics from the organizing committee show that more than 40 per cent of the investors registered were interested in projects of less than 10,000 yuan (US$1,200) input.

One senior official from the organizer told China Daily that most interested people are laid-off workers and new college graduates.

One such person is Bian Jiang who opened a mini supermarket at Jilin University. Now Bian wants to "find some fine items to expand as soon as possible."

Jilin is one of China's traditional industrial bases. Residents have grown used to the "golden times" in the past and lack the enterprising spirit that is key for development, said Song Zhiming, a professor from Jilin University. "We can count on nobody but ourselves to solve the hardship and shoulder the great mission of revitalizing Jilin."

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