Yunnan cut flower business blooms

The land route connecting the southwestern region of China to Bangkok is increasing Yunnan’s market share of fresh cut flowers in Thailand and Singapore. Fresh cut flower production is one of the chief industries in Yunnan province.
Located about 80kms away from Kunming is the Jinyuan Flower Industry.
Keeping the flowers fresh and getting them to markets on time is a cold chain logistics problem. But, thanks to the new North-South economic corridor that connects Kunming to Bangkok, exports via the land route are increasing.
Jinyuan Flower Industry assistant chairman Cao Da Lin said, "Once the expressway was in operation, our company’s exports to flower markets in Thailand increased from 30 to 60%. In 2009, our company’s trade volume with Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Laos reached RMB350 million (US$52.3  million)."
Jinyuan Flower Industry is also a training center. Channel News Asia.com reports that farmers go there for a week-long residential hands-on program.