The city of Dongguan will open 11 public utility projects to private and foreign investors, sources with the municipal government said yesterday (Sept. 21).

The affluent city in South China's Guangdong Province plans to allow more private and foreign investments in the bidding for such projects, government officials said during a two-day investment fair on public utilities which ended yesterday.

More than 230 investment projects worth over 10 billion Yuan (US$1.2 billion) were introduced by 16 cities in Guangdong, including Zhuhai, Dongguan and Shenzhen.

The projects range from sewage and garbage disposal, water and gas supply, to city greening.

The fair, held in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong, also attracted more than 10 domestic and overseas financial institutions and about 100 public utility engineering companies at home and abroad.

China has broken the long-time State monopoly over the public sector since last year, allowing foreign and private funds into projects like gas, electricity and water supply.

Rapid urbanization in Guangdong requires investment from sources other than the government, said Liu Jinghong, vice director of the provincial construction department.

"The financial shortage in the utility construction service sector has always been a headache for the government," said Liu.

Foreign and private investors are encouraged to get involved in sewage and garbage disposal, water and gas supply and public transportation construction through public bidding, Liu said.

Sources said Shenzhen municipal government has given concessions to private investors to run sewage disposal facilities for 20 years.

Editor: Olivia