A new venture capital fund, The Beijing Zhongke Fangshan Venture Capital Fund, which targets investments in the capital's suburban areas, has been set up on Jan 17.

The money for the 500-million-yuan (US$73.09 million) fund has been raised by the enterprises in Fangshan district and would be managed by the China Science & Merchants Capital Management (CSM Group), a local venture capitalist.

Ji Lin, vice mayor of Beijing municipal government, admitted that the main task for the government this year would be to promote the fund in suburban areas.

The fund will mainly invest in hi-tech companies and those with huge growth potential, including leading agricultural firms, said Shan Xiangshuang, president of CSM Group.

(China Daily January 19, 2009)