Wuyuan Bay of Xiamen. [Photo/Xiamen Daily]

The Xiamen Business Environment 8.0 Plan, released in March this year, introduces 80 specific measures that focus on market orientation, legal compliance, internationalization and facilitation. The plan aims to provide higher-quality services to support the growth and success of all types of businesses in Xiamen by addressing enterprise concerns and fostering development.

Enhancing trade facilitation is a key aspect of the plan. Xiamen has introduced a series of innovative measures targeting sectors such as new energy product exports and emerging business models like cross-border e-commerce.

Containerized energy storage products set sail from Xiamen Port. [Photo/Xiamen Daily]

This year, Xiamen has enhanced its lithium battery export services by introducing a "pre-declaration + direct loading for export" model and developing a recommended contract template for lithium battery exports. From January to August, Xiamen Port handled 28,000 TEUs of lithium battery exports, accounting for over 90 percent of Fujian province's total and setting a new historical record.

Additionally, Xiamen has pioneered a convenient "inspect-then-load" model for e-commerce export goods, improving port clearance efficiency. The city has also implemented direct returns to Taiwan and cross-customs zone return models for cross-border e-commerce retail exports. Xiamen is also leading the way in piloting the "tax refund upon departure" policy for exports to overseas warehouses involved in cross-border e-commerce. 

On the import front, Xiamen has actively developed a specialized service mechanism for Southeast Asian fruits. By promoting direct shipping between Xiamen and Southeast Asian ports, the logistics time for imported fruits has been cut by over 50 percent and customs clearance now takes two days.

Xiamen will further explore the pilot Single E-Lock Scheme (SELS) program between Xiamen Customs and Macao Customs, aiming to achieve a Fujian-Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao SELS cleared customs. Efforts will be intensified to cultivate more AEO (Authorized Economic Operator) enterprises. Reforms to allow co-shipping of domestic and international trade goods on the same vessels will also be implemented this year.

Furthermore, a BRICS Migration Service Station will be established in Software Park Phase III to provide one-stop, proactive services for personnel from BRICS countries. A public service platform for cross-border data flow will be set up to offer data export support and services to enterprises.