Sichuan province has put US$87.93 billion (RMB601.7 billion) in tenders out to domestic and offshore firms to aid reconstruction efforts following a magnitude eight earthquake that devastated the western China province in May, the Securities Times reported. Major Chinese firms and representatives of some of the world's 500 largest corporations are bidding for 685 reconstruction projects worth more than RMB600 billion at an investment forum in the province. It was organized by the China Council for Promotion of International Trade, the China Chamber of International Commerce, the Sichuan provincial government and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. The majority of projects were associated with the tourism sector.