It’s official: neoliberalism is claiming the clouds. Tibet, one of the highest and most spiritual countries on Earth, now has its very own ‘free trade strip’ offering special economic benefits to investors who develop there. On the road leading to Lhasa, the traditional capital of Tibet, a banner spans the width of the highway: ‘The developing zone is very promising.’ But the question is: for whom?
The Lhasa Economic and Technical Development Zone (LETDZ) offers investors an attractive discount on tax rates. Strips of land such as these are booming throughout China and the LETDZ is no exception. In the first six months of this year 21 new companies registered in the LETDZ, bringing the total number of new businesses to 115 and investment to 1.6 billion yuan ($235 million).
