Workers are busy loading and uploading goods in Zhangjiagang port. [Photo/zjgonline.com.cn]
The import and export volume of private enterprises in Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu province reached 143.74 billion yuan ($22.58 billion) from January to October this year, a year-on-year increase of 20.9 percent, accounting for 62.6 percent of the total foreign trade value of the city, according to the statistics of Zhangjiagang Customs and Jingang Customs.
This year, Jingang Customs improved the efficiency of customs clearance by rolling out intelligent checks and self-service printing of certificates of origin. These initiatives have helped the city's export enterprises reduce their cost of tariffs by more than $50 million.
Due to the convenient customs clearance procedures, the exports of Shun Der Industry (Jiangsu) Co Ltd, which is located in the Zhangjiagang Free Trade Zone, rose to $11.06 million, a year-on-year increase of 13.4 percent, while its imports rose to $22.45 million, a year-on-year increase of 7.9 percent.
Zhang Weiwei, a staff member from Jingang Customs, said, "It used to take one to three days to check the certificates of origin, but now it can be completed in 20 minutes. This greatly saves time and costs."