Sanya sets up cross-border e-commerce pilot zone

A view of Sanya Bay in Hainan province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

South China's Hainan province recently issued its implementation plan for the Hainan (Sanya) Cross-Border E-commerce Comprehensive Pilot Zone. The document clarifies the requirements for the pilot zone and its goals of being a global procurement center, a modern economic engine, and a cross-border e-commerce center.

According to the implementation plan, there are four basic principles for the Hainan (Sanya) Cross-Border E-Commerce Comprehensive Pilot Zone: adhering to the principles of trade liberalization and facilitation, innovative development and orderly regulation, collaborative sharing, as well as innovation of market entities.

The zone will utilize systemic innovation and follow the requirements to build itself into a hub for international trade, cross-border e-commerce, and service trade.

In three to five years, a cross-border e-commerce system in line with the Hainan Free Trade Port is expected to be established with a customs supervision network in place that is comprehensive, convenient, and efficient.

A service ecosystem based on modern information technology and advanced devices will also be built, involving e-commerce service, customs supervision, logistics, smart supply chains, procurement, and credit risk management.

The volume of e-commerce trade is projected to reach 5 billion yuan ($720 million) by 2022 and 10 billion yuan by 2025, with plans to establish 15 important cross-border e-commerce enterprises, one national cross-border e-commerce demonstration base, and five offshore shopping centers in the zone.

This zone will seek to create a convenient cross-border e-commerce customs clearance environment by building a national cross-border e-commerce storage base, innovating convenient and efficient customs supervision procedures, as well as improving the service functions of designated ports of entry.

It will also seek to build online and offline cross-border e-commerce comprehensive service platforms, as well as complete cross-border e-commerce infrastructure to promote the integrated development of online and offline interaction.

It will optimize the comprehensive service ecosystem for cross-border e-commerce by innovating the cross-border financial service system and implementing preferential tax policies for cross-border e-commerce. 

It will build a smart logistics service system by building a smart logistics transportation service system, based on the new generation of internet and information technology, to realize the implementation of the IoT in the logistics supply chain and by establishing an international logistics service standards system.

E-commerce clusters and entities shall be promoted, while authentication methods will be established. In addition, the development of a cross-border e-commerce talent development mechanism will also be greatly emphasized.

To reach these goals, the provincial government and related departments will strengthen their leadership and services, bolster supporting policies, as well as work towards creating a fair environment for the pilot zone to flourish.