Foreign investors can open hospitals in Jilin, run gas stations in Hubei and develop Tibetan medicines in Tibet starting in 2009.

The expanded business opportunities were among those listed in the central government's updated foreign investment directory for the middle and western regions.

Made public yesterday by National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the new directory will replace the version unveiled in 2004 and will take effect on Jan 1. It can be downloaded on the Chinese version of the commission's online directory.