Economy in Tibet

Economy Since the democratic reform in 1959, and especially since the adoption of the reform and opening-up policy in 1978, Tibet has witnessed remarkable economic development. The Tibetan economy is dominated by subsistence agriculture. The Tibetan yak still plays an important role in Tibetan life. Yaks still promote the best way to plow fields in Tibet. The Tibetan economy is dominated by subsistence agriculture.

Due to limited arable land, the primary occupation of the Tibetan Plateau is raising livestock, such as sheep, cattle, goats, camels, yaks, horses and some crops such as barley, buckwheat, wheat, potatoes, and assorted fruits and vegetables. Development Zone The State Council approved Tibet Lhasa Economic and Technological Development Zone as a state-level development zone in 2001. It is located in the western suburbs of Lhasa, the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region. It is a flat zone, ideal for construction services , and it has the natural conditions for good drainage.

Source: http://www. starmass. com/china_review/provincial_overview/tibet_demographic_economy. htm Tibet demographic analysis and economy overview The service sector plays an important role in Tibet’s economy growth. This is because in 2007, more than half (55%) of the provincial GDP is derived from the service industries. Tourism plays a crucial role to the province’s economic growth. Newly emerging service sectors such as modern commerce, tourism, posts and telecommunications, catering, cultural entertainment and information technology have also been developing rapidly.

The construction sector contributes 21% to the provincial GDP, agricultural sector 16% and manufacturing contributes the least- 8% to the total GDP GDP While traditional agricultural work and animal husbandry continue to lead the area’s economy, in 2005 the tertiary sector contributed more than half of its GDP growth, the first time it surpassed the area’s primary industry. Rich reserves of natural resources and raw materials have yet to lead to the creation of a strong secondary sector, due in large part to the province’s inhospitable terrain, low population density, an underdeveloped infrastructure and the high cost of extraction

Tibet’s GDP in 2008 reached 39. 6 billion Yuan. The Chinese government says that it exempts Tibet from all taxation and provides 90% of Tibet’s government expenditure. Critics say that the central government is stripping Tibetan resources and neglecting the welfare of Tibetan people. Tibet’s economy has grown on average 15% per year from 2000 to 2006. http://news. xinhuanet. com/english/2009-03/30/content_11098888. htm Report on economic and social development of Tibet www. chinaview. cn 2009-03-30 10:22:48 Source: http://www. starmass. com/china_review/provincial_overview/tibet_demographic_economy. tm Tibet demographic analysis and economy overview The GDP per capita reached 13. 861 Yuan in 2008 for the first time in Tibet’s history. GDP reached 39,5 billion Yuan in 2008. In the first six months of 2008, economic growth in Tibet was halved after the Lhasa riots (a series of riots, protests, and demonstrations that started in the capital of Lhasa and spread to other Tibetan areas and a number of monasteries including outside the Tibet Autonomous Region. The violence was mostly directed at Han and Hui civilians). The Lhasa riots led to a slump in tourism and consumption.

In recent years, due to increased interest in Tibetan Buddhism, tourism has become an increasingly important sector, and is actively promoted by the authorities. (Philipois) China has invested 310 billion yuan (about 45. 6 billion U. S. dollars) in Tibet since 2001. Industry There was no modern industry or infrastructure before the 1950s With some adjustments, the value of industrial output rose again in the late 1980s. Moreover, as in the rest of China, the ownership structure of industrial enterprises in the TAR also experienced a major change.

In 2007, for a “gross industrial output value” totalling 5,044 million yuan, 33,1 % came from state enterprises, 5. 6 % from collectively-owned enterprises and 61. 3 % from “others” (private companies, joint ventures and foreign companies). Thus, private enterprise is now the main source of growth in industrial production. Commerce (traditional handicrafts, carpets etc) tourism, catering, leisure and other industries that had never been heard of in old Tibet, are now booming as the primary industries in the region. Prospects for Growth and Development

Although Tibet’s society and economy were affected by the March14 Incident in 2008, the impact on most local industries was limited, except for temporary difficulties for tourism in Tibet. In the next few years, Tibet’s economy is expected to maintain sound and rapid development in virtue of favorable factors such as increasing investment and transfer payments from the central government, rising income level of farmers and herdsmen, and burgeoning consumption by local residents. Slides (Philips, just in case you want to use this map… I think it`s a good one)

Slide 1: Economy in Tibet Democratic reform in 1959 and reform and opening-up policy in 1978: remarkable economic development in Tibet. Traditionally dominated by subsistence agriculture. Due to limited arable land, the primary occupation of the Tibetan Plateau is raising livestock, such as sheep, cattle, goats, camels, yaks, horses and some crops such as barley, buckwheat, wheat, potatoes, and assorted fruits and vegetables. Slide 2: Yaks still promote the best way to plow fields in Tibet. Slide 3: Development Zone

The State Council approved Tibet Lhasa Economic and Technological Development Zone as a state-level development zone in 2001. Location: in the western suburbs of Lhasa, the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region. Flat zone Construction services Natural conditions for good drainage. Slide 4: Tibet`s GDP Industry: no modern industry or infrastructure before the 1950s With some adjustments, the value of industrial output rose again in the late 1980s. Nowadays private enterprise is the main source of growth in industrial production.

Newly emerging service sectors: modern commerce, tourism, posts and telecommunications, catering, cultural entertainment and information technology have also been developing rapidly. Tourism: essential for the economic growth.