BEIJING, Jan. 31 -- The China Development Bank and the Huaxia Bank had made more than 8 billion yuan in loans available to Taiwanese companies by the end of 2006.

By the end of December 2006, the China Development Bank had finished its assessment of loan applications submitted by 117 Taiwanese enterprises and granted 6.55 billion yuan in loans, said Yang Yi, spokesman of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, at a press conference on Wednesday.

The Huaxia Bank had actually granted 1.7 billion yuan, he reported.

The Taiwanese companies, which received the loans, are operating in more than 20 mainland provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions in the electronic, chemical, agricultural, metallurgical, textile, food and logistics industries.

"We will continue to facilitate providing financing services to Taiwanese enterprises in 2007," Yang said.