Chongqing, a major industrial and economic center in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, opens its first Agricultural Investment Fair and an Agricultural Product Exhibition on November 20.

The Fair is expected to attract six billion yuan in overseas investment with over 100 projects.

Chongqing, one of China's important agricultural production bases, has already set up a dozen experimental zones that enjoy preferential treatment. These zones have good water, electricity and other facilities.

According to vice mayor Chen Guangguo, overseas businesspeople began to show interest in the city's agricultural sector ever since Chongqing, a former large city of Sichuan Province, became China's fourth municipality directly under the central government administration in 1997.

In 1998, the agricultural sector used 59.23 million US dollars in contractual overseas investment, with direct investment reaching 6.16 million dollars.

Thirty-one enterprises from the United States, Canada, Japan, Israel, South Africa and six other countries and regions are participating in the three-day Fair which will close tomorrow. (Xinhua)