China's Tibet has paid close attention to building up a four-hour economic zone in recent years and industrial clusters featuring plateau characteristics have been formed to play a positive and facilitating role in the region's economic and social development.

Accumulation effects are emerging in the four-hour economic zone, which is centered in Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet, and includes Shannan Area, Shigatse City, Nyingchi County and Naqu County.

It was reported that there were 47 newly-registered enterprises in this zone in the first half of this year.

Industrial clusters, including agricultural and livestock products, Tibetan medicine and bio-pharmaceuticals, green drinks and traditional handicrafts, have played significant role in the economic development of this zone.

In 2009, the zone realized 1.5 billion yuan of output value, representing a 6 percent increase over the same period of last year and 333 million yuan in taxes were collected, representing a 72 percent year-on-year growth.

The development of agricultural and livestock products in this zone has been extend into the industry chain, which has effectively promoted income growth for local farmers and herdsmen — something the government has had difficulty achieving for years.

It was reported the per capita net income of farmers and herdsmen was 4,149 yuan in Lhasa City in 2009, 600 yuan higher than the average level of the whole minority ethnic autonomous region.