Pingtan Pilot Free Trade Zone launches 51 national innovation initiatives

After nearly three years, Pingtan has implemented 178 key experimental tasks and rolled out a total of 115 innovation (including 51 national) initiatives in 10 stages based on the strategic positioning of “Two Windows, One Island, and Three Zones”. Among them, 43 innovation measures have been included in the first four batches of 70 innovations that are replicable across pilot free trade zones in Fujian.

With the “Pilot Zone, Pilot Free Trade Zone, and International Tourism Island”, Pingtan refers to international standards and has made strides in institutional innovations. As for its status as an investment environment, the “Four Ones” of investment reforms; the self-declaration of the names of commercial entities; the adoption of Taiwan’s certification, accreditation, inspection, and test result system; the inquiry of credits for Taiwanese enterprises and Taiwan compatriots; and a comprehensive law enforcement system have been implemented to name just a few benefits. In addition, innovations have been made to create a series of new replicable experiences; reform dividends are continuously released; and the island has played a role as both a leader and example.

Since last year, the number of “Cross Strait Ferry” (CSF) voyage subsidy procedures has been greatly reduced from nineteen to two from application to implementation. This is attributed to the “three reductions, two ‘-izations’, and one enhancement” approach Pingtan has promoted, namely reducing front ends, links, and time; promoting standardization and modularization; and improving the effectiveness of government agencies. In 2016, the approach was rolled out across the region. Relevant authorities in Pingtan comprehensively reviewed and reconstructed the procedures of 3,646 administrative power matters, 281 public services, and 4,635 responsibilities. About 80% of the general approval items have formed a standardized module, which the front-line departments are authorized to do on site, and the remaining 20% of the more complex matters were submitted to leaders for approval, thoroughly reducing correspondence and review at all levels of general documents.

Pingtan is making every effort to promote the systematic construction of social credit. In addition, it is also establishing a “Smart Island” management service center, integrating data bases in six key areas such as legal persons, natural persons, geographical information, economic information, real estate, and urban infrastructure in accordance with the idea of “One Network, One Platform, One Center, and One Common Account in One Island”, thus enabling data connection and sharing. At present, it has taken the lead in realizing provincial decentralization and district-level service management matters from the administrative service center further down into the community to provide convenient services for the people. On this basis, it will gradually build a society-wide credit system covering natural and legal persons throughout the island and will explore the implementation of differentiated distribution policies for public resources to be closely linked to natural and corporate credit ratings.

 “The core task of the construction of the Pilot Free Trade Zone is institutional innovation. We will continue to give great impetus to promote the reform of the institutional mechanisms and provide Fujian Province and even the whole country with replicable experiences,” said the person in charge of the Pingtan area.

On May 9, 2017, Pingtan Express Delivery Center was officially opened as the first logistics center in the province that integrates the shipping of express mail, bonded goods in cross-border trade, and the supervision of direct mail shipping, not to mention its function as a bonded warehouse.

Pingtan is taking active part in promoting cross-strait customs clearance cooperation. A cross-strait customs electronic information exchange system has been officially launched, achieving the interconnection and exchange of information concerning certificates of origin under the cross-strait ECFA, with cross-strait customs having implemented the pilot scheme for the Mutual Recognition of “Authorized Economic Operators” (AEO) since October 1, 2016.

In terms of qualifications, management standards for industries such as tourism, health care, education, and construction have been adopted, and more than 50 Taiwan-related organizations and more than 250 Taiwanese practitioners have obtained qualifications for working in Pingtan.