The Bank has made important contributions to the economic development of the country in other ways also. During the year, the Bank identified several counties in Anhui Province and Guangxi Autonomous Region as recipients of the Bank's poverty-alleviation program funding. This program, funded through loans to local and regional assistance agencies, provides mini-loans to local farmers to assist in growing crops, raising livestock, and developing local industries to promote self-sufficiency among people living below the national poverty level. In Guangxi alone, over RMB 7 million of new loans were provided for these objectives.
The program also allows the Bank to contribute to other areas of the poorest economies and regions of China. Through Project Hope, the Bank contri-buted over RMB 560,000 to build and equip new primary school in Guangxi. Donations of computers, stationary, teaching facilities and supplies have also been instrumental in improving the education of people in these regions.