Guangxi offers support to cross-border traders

Lower taxes and cheaper goods are helping locals start businesses

The Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region in South China, neighboring Vietnam, is encouraging individual border traders by lowering taxes and reducing the cost of goods, as part of the region's wider poverty-alleviation efforts.

The region has set up 560 border trade groups to work with manufacturing companies to ensure a stable supply of goods at lower costs. Group members have independent businesses and offer each other help when necessary.