China to further encourage software exports

China's software exports were at $14.34 billion in 2011, and the government is likely to implement more policies to encourage the development of the software outsourcing business, an official at the Ministry of Commerce said on Friday

"The software outsourcing business helped Chinese enterprises join the international market and will become one of the most important engines to boost the development of China's software industry," said Qiu Hong, assistant minister at the MOC.

The government may draw up some policies to help Chinese software companies enter the global market and lure overseas companies to China.

"More software export hubs may get approval from the ministry in the coming years," Qiu said, without giving detailed information.

The total output of the nation's software information services was 1.85 trillion yuan ($290 billion) in 2011, nearly 23 times higher than the 2000 figure, Qiu said. He added that exports were one of the fastest growing sectors across the industry.

China plans to increase the amount of software services exports to $60 billion by 2015, according to the industry's 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015) announced in April.

gaoyuan@chinadaily.com.cn