The Selection Of Leading Industry And Industry Distribution In Environmentally Vulnerable Area

Industrialization is an inevitable process for economy development and industry upgrade in modern industrial society. With the integration of global economy and development of western region, Tibet economy faces the same challenge of industry upgrade. It is contended that the growth of regional industry plays a crucial role in the process of economical autonomy and independency in Tibet. Although a region with affluent natural resource, industry development in Tibet is limited by a number of restrictive conditions, such as vulnerability of its ecological environment. Bear all the restrictions in mind, the primary concern is to identify and develop a leading industry in Tibet, that is able to convert resource advantage into competitive advantage and drive the upgrade of regional industrial structure as well as the great-leap-forward development of local economy.This article starts with an overview of the current situation of Tibet industry, followed by a discussion of the connection between industry and environment. Built on the basic principle of sustainable development, the article attempts to explore two issues. First, to identify the leading industry in Tibet. Secondly, to determine an appropriate industrial distribution in Tibet area. This study aims to offer a comprehensive understanding of current situation as well as potential development factors of Tibet economy and to propose a proper way of industry development which benefits both economy growth and environment protection.Based on past literature, this article first gives a qualitative summary of the unique natural resource in Tibet and identifies resource-based industry as the main development focus. Then the article analyses the different development conditions in various geographical areas for the purpose of determining industry distribution. Then the article builds a quantitative model based on AHP, combining economical, environmental, and social factors, to choose the leading industry in Tibet. At last, the article offers suggestions to the development strategies in Tibet.