Story By: John Feng, Sub-Editor:  Joseph Golder, Agency: Asia Wire Report

A Chinese metropolis is issuing its citizens free e-coupons totalling more than 190 million GBP in a bid to lift the city out of a coronavirus spending slump.

Hangzhou, China’s 11th largest city by population with 10 million inhabitants, is the capital of coastal Zhejiang Province.

Its stimulus package worth some 1.68 billion RMB (190 million GBP) is aimed at encouraging domestic consumption, with the specific goal of keeping six million so-called ‘brick-and-mortar’ small and medium-sized businesses afloat after an effective two-month shutdown due to the pandemic.

During the first wave of the initiative starting 27th March, consumers can claim five vouchers of 10 RMB (1 GBP) each via ubiquitous messenger application WeChat, where Alibaba has offered up its QR code e-payment service Alipay.

Through 2nd April, the city of Hangzhou will release e-coupons worth 100 million RMB (11.3 million GBP), encouraging citizens to spend at discounted rates in supermarkets and even fast food restaurants such as KFC.

From 3rd April through 31st May, vouchers will increase in value as the peak season approaches.

Businesses both online and in physical have been encouraged to release their own discount packages aimed at boosting consumption.

Similar stimulus programmes are targeting consumers to increase spending in the catering and tourism industries.

Elsewhere in Zhejiang, cities such as Jiaxing and Ningbo have also announced similar packets, as have neighbouring provincial capitals Jinan and Nanjing, both of which have populations comparable to London.

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