The total retail sales of consumer goods in the city of Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, is expected to reach 38 billion yuan (US$ 6.1 billion) in 2013, boasting an increase of 18 percent compared to the 2012 figures, according to the Yinchuan Commerce Bureau on January 10.

The Bureau of Commerce will promote the construction of 50 trade and business projects with a total investment of 33.6 billion yuan to improve the commercial function of smaller communities. Yinchuan has plans to set up a total of 20 convenient shopping networks and centers this year. A total of 50 shopping stores and four distribution centers for rural residents will be constructed or renovated this year. The area’s exhibition economy will be vigorously intensified and more than 20 large-scale exhibitions will take place in Yinchuan in 2013, including the China-Arab States Expo, Yinchuan International Auto Expo and so on.