Civilian companies in Hebei province will enjoy preferential policies in taxation and financing if they make products and provide other services for national defense.

The number of non-military companies in the province providing products and services for national defense will exceed 200 by 2018, according to the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015) on military service.

Of these, two companies will see annual sales greater than 5 billion yuan ($815 million), said Liu Jianying, deputy director of the Hebei Industrial Bureau for National Defense Science and Technology, on Tuesday.

In 2012, 22 civilian companies became eligible to provide products and services for national defense.

“It's the largest increase in recent years in the province,” Liu said, adding that by the end of June, 146 non-military companies will be eligible for the defense role.

The provincial government has signed cooperation agreements to jointly launch projects giving more business opportunities for civilian companies in the province.