Vessels are seen at a port in Zhangjiagang, Suzhou, Jiangsu province. [Photo/zjgonline.com.cn]

The customs department of Jingang subdistrict in Zhangjiagang, Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu province, has taken measures to help local foreign trade companies expand their exports.

COFCO Donghai Grain and Oil Industry (Zhangjiagang) Co, a joint venture by China Oil and Food Corporation (COFCO) and Kenspot International Pte Ltd, recently received new export orders for 5,000 metric tons of rice from its headquarters.

This worried Xu Jianfang, general manager of the rice department, as the company doesn't have enough storage capacity for so much rice.

After receiving the company's call for help, workers from Jingang customs visited the company's factory and suggested using the available stacking shelves meant for domestically traded goods. In addition, it allowed the company to deposit rice that has already been inspected in its vessel at the port as long as the ship doesn't leave the port before the entire inspection is completed.

According to Han Xiaomin, an employee at Jingang customs, more than 8,900 tons of rice has been exported this year.

The department has also used technological means to help local companies increase their exports, such as inspecting goods through video link, added Han.