The Nike store was less lucky for sales. The store had overstocked 160 pair of shoes and the 1,000 yuan daily sales revenue was not even enough to pay its electricity and rent.

"Anyway, our sales revenue is going up day by day in general. We're going to recruit six more employees," said shop assistant Zhao Rongchao. "We're waiting for the purchase peak to come."

Although most of the foreign brand stores have restored operation, some were still suffering.

The adjacent store Only, another international brand of the Denmark-based Bestseller Fashion Group Co. Ltd, was burned down in the riot and its doors were still closed.

"Our loss is around 2 million yuan. We're waiting for our headquarters to design the new store," said shop manager Li Hua.

"The marble floor, cashier counters and shelves have to be replaced. It will take us at least two months for material transportation and decoration."

Currently, Tibet has 103 registered foreign-funded enterprises, whose services mainly cover accommodation, catering, tourism and handicraft, according to Ma Xiangcun, head of the regional department of commerce.

The regional government was offering compensation for businesses and business people who had suffered losses during the riot, said Baema Chilain, the regional government vice-chairman, at the end of March.

"The government will provide interest-free or government-subsidized loans to help the businesses resume."

According to official statistics, 908 stores were vandalized, looted or burnt and 120 homes were torched during the riot.

(Xinhua News Agency April 11, 2008)