SHANGHAI: The Shanghai Zhangjiang Cross-border Scientific Innovation Supervision Service Center has started trial operations to improve the ease of customs clearances. The first beneficiary of the new service center was the Shanghai Boehringer Ingelheim Co, whose imported medical products worth 1.8 million yuan (US$261,070) passed smoothly through customs on March 24. The service center at 899 Dangui Road covers 12,000 square meters, including the joint declaration hall for customs clearance and entry-exit inspection, the inspection area and a warehouse.
Shanghai Customs launched the service center in the hope of accelerating inspection and clearance for biopharmaceutical and integrated circuit enterprises in Zhangjiang. The idea was first proposed in 2015 and received approval last September. Construction was completed on March 13. The center greatly improves the efficiency of customs clearance and ensures the safety of cargo, said Xie Dong, executive director of the ChemPartner, CRO service division of the ShangPharma Group, another beneficiary of the new center. Provided the necessary paperwork is submitted, customs clearance and entry-exit inspection can be cut from 2-3 days to within 24 hours. And customized services will be offered to companies that import goods requiring refrigeration.
The center will use Zhangjiang’s status as a national innovation demonstration zone to make itself a pilot ground of various innovative measures concerning trade facilitation, said Yang Ye, director of Zhangjiang High Tech Park administrative committee. Yang said the move aims to use systems innovation to promote scientific innovation and to create an international business environment working toward fulfilling Zhangjiang’s mission as a leading demonstration zone.
