Shanghai's Songjiang district rolled out 107 measures to optimize the business environment on Jan 12, shifting the focus from procedural convenience to tangible results.

The action plan, known as version 9.0, marks the ninth consecutive year of business environment reforms in Songjiang. It centers on four key dimensions: government services, market competition, the industrial ecosystem, and social co-governance.

According to an official with the Songjiang District Development and Reform Commission, the reforms are designed to support not only large enterprises but also small and micro businesses. The district has introduced more flexible regulatory practices in areas such as shop signage and the night-time economy to improve the operating environment for smaller entities.

To ease financing constraints, version 9.0 strengthens the two-way matching mechanism between financial institutions' product offerings and enterprises' financial needs through the district's financing service center.

It also promotes the launch of the ninth batch of "Park Loans" via a policy-based financing platform linking government guarantees, industrial parks, and banks, helping reduce borrowing costs for businesses.

The plan further enhances the integration of online and offline services, while retaining physical service counters to accommodate personalized and complex cases.

An official noted that offline windows remain essential for matters such as amendments to company articles of association.

Songjiang has also incorporated feedback from 33 business environment experience officers representing universities, enterprises, and the legal sector. Suggestions, including improvements to "occupational reporting regulations" and "cross-provincial legal collaboration", have been incorporated into the plan.

A new "quick answer to community calls" mechanism introduces reverse evaluation, allowing communities to access the support provided by district-level departments, creating a two-way supervision loop.

Additional measures focus on improving international trade services by expanding the aviation fast-track cargo station model and establishing a cultivation mechanism for enterprises seeking advanced customs certification, aimed at boosting clearance efficiency.

The plan also seeks to stimulate innovation and entrepreneurship by promoting university-industry collaboration and developing concept verification centers to accelerate the commercialization of scientific and technological achievements.

Source: ThePaper