Streamlined customs keep Shenzhen ahead on trade
Companies with export business in Shenzhen, a city that champions trade, have praised its simplified customs system which has saved them time and costs.
According to the latest statistics from Shenzhen Customs, exports from the Guangdong province city increased by 5.5 percent year-on-year to 1.65 trillion yuan ($258.2 billion) in 2017, accounting for more than one-tenth of the country’s total export volume.
Shenzhen has ranked first place in export among Chinese mainland cities for 25 years in a row, the statistics indicate.
“Since customs launched its online system, we don’t need to go to the counters — instead we just click on the computers to handle most of the businesses,” said Zeng Yuanxia, who works for local agency that provides customs clearance services for trade companies.
For example, previously it would take her at least two days to apply for clearance, pay the taxes and get the permission from the customs officers after commuting several times from her office to a service center, but now it can be handled in just a day, or in just several minutes, Zeng said.
Shenzhen Customs launched its online services platform in December 2016, which can handle 92 different services in eight categories, including administrative approval, tariffs, clearance, statistics consultancy and inspection.
“What we need to do now is to follow the customs instructions and hand in the required materials online. Then we will get the replies through a smartphone or in the system, which can greatly improve efficiency and save time a lot,” said Yu Jibing, a customs specialist at Shenzhen-based DJI-Innovations, the world’s largest commercial drone-maker.
According to Shenzhen Customs, since the establishment of its online system it has handled more than 44,000 services for 5,300 companies.
The customs office also launched a long-distance interview system in July 2017. With the real-time communications devices, business representatives can interact with customs officers to verify documents without having to travel to any service center.
The new service can save three hours for each company on average, according to Shenzhen Customs.
Tailor-made services
As one of China’s most innovative cities, Shenzhen has nurtured a large number of high-tech companies that have emerged as a new force in the export business.
Shenzhen Customs provides one-to-one services to five of the most promising companies, including DJIInnovations, Royole Corporation, which is a Shenzhenbased startup manufacturer of flexible displays and smart devices, and Tencent Cloud, an affiliate of internet giant Tencent that provides cloudcomputing services.
The tailor-made tutoring is designed to help the companies better understand the customs regulations in different countries and the global trade situation, as well as solve their problems, so that they can grow faster in global markets, local customs officials said.
The customs office also encourages local companies to apply for the general and advanced certificates of Authorized Economic Operator to meet the standards of the World Customs Organization.
For qualified candidates, Shenzhen customs will provide them with consultancy services and lectures to improve their internal structure, risk control, financial management and trade safety.
With the help of the customs office, Shenzhen Capchem Technology, a global leading supplier of electronic chemicals, has gained the advanced AEO certificate.
According to the company’s customs specialist, its delivery to international clients has been improved considerably because its export goods are more easily checked and the clearance procedures, streamlined.
Some 91 companies gained the advanced certificate in 2017 alone, pushing the total amount to 227 in Shenzhen and neighboring city Huizhou, which Shenzhen Customs also oversees.