Specialty Industries, Green Rise

　　In Sinopec’s E-jie Supermarkets, Tibet Zhuomaquan mineral water is prominently displayed. Thanks to the collaboration with Sinopec’s E-jie Supermarkets, Zhuomaquan natural drinking water sourced from Tibet now reaches every province, city, and autonomous region across China—except for Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan.

　　The natural drinking water industry is one of the distinctive industries that Tibet has vigorously developed in recent years. Over the past 50 years, Tibet has consistently focused on fostering and developing endogenous driving forces, with a particular emphasis on the development of specialty industries.

　　During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, Tibet proposed vigorously developing six key special and pillar industries: tourism, Tibetan medicine, highland-specific bio-industry and green food industry, agricultural and livestock product processing, ethnic handicrafts, mining, and construction materials. Following the directives of the Fifth Central Symposium on Work in Tibet, the Tibet Autonomous Region further specified that it would focus on six distinctive industries—mining with competitive advantages, Tibetan medicine, ethnic handicrafts, specialty tourism, specialized agriculture and animal husbandry, and green food and beverage industries—to build a group of well-known plateau-specific brands.

　　Today, Tibet’s specialty industries are becoming increasingly mature, having developed a number of distinctive and advantageous sectors closely linked to ecological and cultural preservation, providing strong support for the long-term development of Tibet and for improving the livelihoods and prosperity of its people.

　　“Special” in ecological conservation

　　The 6th Central Symposium on Tibet Work emphasized the need to prioritize ecological conservation. In the process of developing specialty industries, Tibet has consistently kept in mind the ecological bottom line, red lines, and high-pressure boundaries. No matter what kind of specialty industry is developed, ecological conservation always remains the prerequisite and runs throughout the entire process.

　　Linzhi City is a pioneer in the development of ecological tourism in Tibet. With paired support from Guangdong and Fujian provinces as well as Linzhi’s own concerted efforts, Linzhi’s ecological tourism industry is thriving.

　　“Ecology is Lhoka’s greatest asset. We’ve set the goal of building a ‘large-scale eco-tourism region’ and adopted the development philosophy of ‘green rise.’ This is the development path that Lhoka must inevitably take,” said Wangdui, Mayor of Lhoka City. “Our ultimate goal in developing tourism is to enrich the local people. By fostering tourism, we can ensure that local residents reap tangible benefits while maintaining harmony with the natural environment, thus achieving a win-win situation where ecological conservation and economic development go hand in hand.”

　　As of the end of 2014, Linzhi had a total of 316 family-run guesthouses. The tourism industry has driven value-added growth in related sectors to the tune of 3.69 billion yuan. Local residents have achieved sustainable income growth and prosperity through industries such as family-run guesthouses, catering, and tourist transportation. In Zhaxigang Village, Bayi District, nearly every household now benefits from tourism, with average annual income increases exceeding 100,000 yuan thanks to tourism.

　　Since 2013, Lhasa City has set a new goal for the development of its specialty industries—“Pure Land Health Industry.” With ecological conservation as a prerequisite, Lhasa has been vigorously upgrading and developing eco-friendly agriculture and animal husbandry on the plateau. By the end of 2014, the output value of Lhasa’s Pure Land Health Industry had reached nearly 2.87 billion yuan.

　　“Special” in Cultural Heritage

　　The showroom of Xizang Bangjin Mido Industrial and Trading Co., Ltd. is adorned with beautifully crafted Tibetan carpets. From its initial registered capital of 20 million yuan to today’s total assets of 150 million yuan, the company now employs over 300 people. Its product range includes a variety of textiles such as Tibetan carpets, rugs, tapestries, khadas, cushions, floor mats, and tourist souvenirs. Xizang Bangjin Mido Industrial and Trading Co., Ltd. has gradually grown into a leading example of specialized industrial development in Tibet.

　　“Although our company now boasts domestically advanced equipment for making hada textiles, we still place great emphasis on preserving and passing down traditional craftsmanship and ethnic culture. We’ve cultivated a professional team of artisans specializing in the hand-weaving of Tibetan carpets, and each year we provide regular training to 300 local carpet weavers,” said Wei Yaping, Chairman of Tibet Bangjin Miduo Industrial and Trading Co., Ltd.

　　Tibetan medicine is not only beloved by the people in Tibetan areas but is also gradually gaining recognition and popularity among patients from inland China. Tibet has designated the Tibetan medicine industry as a distinctive specialty for development and protection, and has already established a number of well-known Tibetan medicine enterprises and brands.

　　“Throughout our 20-year entrepreneurial journey, we’ve come to deeply appreciate that supporting, inheriting, and rescuing traditional Tibetan culture is of great significance for promoting regional economic development. We’ve clearly identified the support of ethnic cultural development as a long-term strategy and incorporated it into our company’s development plan,” said Lei Jufang, Chairperson of Tibet Qizheng Tibetan Medicine Co., Ltd. In 2014, Qizheng Tibetan Medicine also contributed 4.901 million yuan to the special fund for “Tibetan Cultural Heritage and Preservation,” using the funds to implement 15 public welfare projects aimed at inheriting and preserving traditional Tibetan culture.

　　In recent years, Tibet has seen the emergence of numerous exemplary figures—such as Bang Jin Mido and Qizheng Tibetan Medicine—who are dedicated to carrying forward the region’s ethnic culture. The development of specialty industries and the preservation and inheritance of cultural heritage are closely intertwined.

　　“Special” in Enriching the People and Revitalizing Tibet

　　As you enter the picturesque Basong Co Scenic Area, flocks of little black pigs occasionally pop up from the grasslands and woods along the road. These little black pigs are known as “Zangxiang Pigs,” a breed that Tibet has officially designated for national geographical indication protection. With the development of Tibet’s distinctive agricultural and pastoral industries, Gongbujiangda County in Nyingchi is placing particular emphasis on cultivating the Zangxiang Pig industry.

　　“In recent years, as the brand recognition of Tibetan fragrant pigs has continued to rise, their prices have also increased significantly,” said Dorje, head of the Tibetan Fragrant Pig Cooperative in Jieba Village, Cuogao Township, Gongbujiangda County. “The Tibetan fragrant pig industry has brought substantial income to local residents.” In Jieba Village, 170 households across the entire village are involved in raising Tibetan fragrant pigs, and in 2014 alone, they generated an income of approximately 1.5 million yuan.

　　Tibet continues to increase its investment in and support for specialty agricultural and pastoral industries, and has preliminarily established a regional pattern of specialty agricultural products characterized by “Five Belts and Fourteen Zones.” The goal is to achieve a 40% rate of specialized industrialized operations in agriculture and pastoral sectors by 2015.

　　Developing specialized agriculture and animal husbandry is aimed at benefiting farmers and herders, who account for more than 80% of Tibet’s total population. Data show that in 2014, Tibet’s special agricultural and pastoral industries helped increase the income of local residents by 1.315 billion yuan, benefiting 1.756 million people—more than 60% of the total population. On average, each household saw an income increase of 3,305 yuan, and per capita income rose by 748 yuan.

　　While boosting people’s livelihoods, the development of specialty industries has fostered endogenous momentum for Tibet’s economic growth. The Tibet Autonomous Region has proposed an economic development strategy emphasizing “elevating the primary sector,” “focusing on key areas in the secondary sector,” and “achieving robust development in the tertiary sector.” Among these efforts, Tibet has placed particular emphasis on the natural drinking water industry and has introduced relevant policies and measures. Currently, there are 28 natural drinking water enterprises across the region that have obtained production licenses, with more than 30 production lines already in place. Last year, the region’s output of natural drinking water from enterprises above designated size reached 153,000 tons, representing a 60% increase, with an output value of 530 million yuan. Tibet has established an industry association for natural drinking water, aiming to build a major industry within three to five years, with an annual output of 5 million tons and a total output value exceeding 40 billion yuan, thereby positioning Tibet as a key national supplier of natural drinking water.

　　Reporting media: Economic Daily

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