IT is hard to imagine that in the Zhuhang Town of Jinshan District with a population of only 30,000, the output of synthetic gloves accounts for one-third of the world's total.
The town, covering an area of 43 square kilometers, made the achievement thanks to contributions of Taiwan-invested companies. Altogether 10 companies with Taiwan capital have been set up in the town so far. Of them, eight companies, under two groups, are engaged in synthetic gloves production, one in glove mold production and one in textile material production.
In the district, 110 Taiwan-invested companies have been registered with a contracted investment of US$210 million, according to the latest official statistics. More than 100 Taiwan entrepreneurs are living in the district.
Synthetic gloves and computer-related products have become major industries of Jinshan.
Suntax Group and Jiayun Group, the two synthetic gloves manufacturers in Zhuhang, are the largest two Taiwan investors in the district. They achieved an output value of 1.5 billion yuan (US$180.72 million) last year, accounting for 60 percent of the town's yearly output value.
"The most outstanding contribution of the Taiwan enterprises is that they offered many jobs to the townsmen," said Jiang Yonghua, party secretary of the town committee. "Though they paid little tax to the government because all of their products are exported, they helped improve income of local people."
About 4,000 Zhuhang laborers are now working in these Taiwan enterprises, accounting for two-thirds of the town's total labor power.
"With each worker earning 800 yuan per month, it is much more than the income from growing rice," Jiang said.
The workers also improved their life habits as they learned not to litter and spit at will from working in the factories where a hygienic environment is required.
The Taiwan companies also devoted themselves in the social welfare. They set up a scholarship to award those who enter the university and often donated to help the poor.
At the same time, the Taiwan companies also benefited a lot from the town.
"We believe it is the honesty of local people that most impressed the Taiwan investors," said Zhang Zhongqi, manager of the town's development company.
"We always kept our words on any occasion."
When the owner of Taiwan Jiayun Group came for an investment investigation in the town in 1992, he once left a bag in the taxi. The bag was sent back by the driver the next day while he was still thinking where he had left it.
It is said that the honest driver helped him make the final decision to invest in the town. With successful operation of the first overseas company, Jiayun not only opened three more enterprises but also attracted Suntax, another synthetic glove manufacturer, and other companies.
Now the small town has become the world's largest production base of synthetic gloves.
"We have obtained much help from the local government and they offered perfect service ranging from dealing with all the procedures and setting up street lamps especially for the factories," said Chen Wenchang, who runs one of the factories owned by the Jiayun Group.