The Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) will launch a household management service promotion program, a move that is aimed at expanding domestic demand.

Under the program, the ministry will, in three years' time, help local governments set up household management service centers in 287 cities across the country.

The initiative will ensure that domestic household management companies get professional training and urban residents, easy access to home management services.

"Domestic demand is the third important driver, after trade and investment, in stimulating China's economic growth," said Yao Jian, spokesperson of MOFCOM.

It is estimated that there are 500,000 household management companies in China and 15 million working in the industry.

A survey also shows that about 40 percent of urban families need household management services, but find it hard to locate quality-focused companies.

The household management service center program, when put into operation, is forecast to generate additional sales worth 30 billion yuan for the industry.

This year, the government would give priority to expanding domestic demand, said Yao.

Stimulated by the household electronics rebate program, which the government launched in 2007, around 2.7 million units of household electronics products worth 4 billion yuan were sold in the first quarter.

In March alone, 1.49 million units worth 2.24 billion yuan were purchased nationwide.

From January to March, sales of automobiles increased by 11.1 percent, and furniture and home decoration witnessed sales climb by 24.1 and 20.2 percent.

(China Daily April 16, 2009)