The coastal city of Xiamen in Fujian province has established a “single-window” in border ports, on April 21. The establishment comes on the same day as the China (Fujian) Pilot Free Trade Zone’s (FTZ) official inauguration.

The “Single Window” service system was jointly set up by the Xiamen Municipal government, Xiamen Customs and the Xiamen Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau. It aims to provide a one-stop service in international trade.

Through the new system, government approval that was required for overseas companies who wished to set up ventures or change their purpose of business in these zones been changed so that companies only need to file a report to the authorities. This adjustment has reduced customs clearance costs and improved customs clearance capability.

As an important section of the Fujian FTZ, the city is also speeding up the establishing of an E-port information platform, through which detailed information for port customs clearance, commerce and trade, and logistics can be easily acquired.

Through the “Single Window”, the city is trying to innovate in the form of trade and develop cross-border e-commerce and other modern business models. Companies can now log into www.china-xmftz.gov.cn to handle their business efficiently.

Other functions of the “Single Window” system are under construction. “We’ll integrate the existing resources and gradually step towards a paperless office and provide better e-service to companies, “said one of the officials.

“In the future, we’ll cooperate with the third-party service platform and trade platform to provide better one-stop service to companies,” he added.