Special policies to support small businesses are expected to be released in the second half of this year, according to sources close to policymakers.

Resolving the financing difficulties faced by small businesses is a priority in the 12th Five-Year Plan period (2011-2015), said Liu Gongxiao, a director of the Mechanical Industry and Information Center, a think tank associated with the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) - the nation's top economic planner - and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).

Private capital will be encouraged to invest in small businesses, especially high-tech startups in renewable energy, new materials and biomedicine, Liu said.

Various additional intermediary service agencies will also be established to help reach more small businesses, he added.

The State Council is organizing multiple departments to conduct research into the policies. The NDRC and MIIT began seminars and surveys about small businesses nationwide in August.

(Source: China Daily)