(CFP Photo)
From January to April, Jiangsu's foreign trade with the five Central Asian countries amounted to 5.78 billion yuan, an increase of 14.9% year on year, according to Nanjing Customs.
The exports and imports reached 5.21 billion yuan and 570 million yuan, respectively, up 14% and of 24.7%.
The robust growth came as China deepened economic and trade cooperation with Central Asian countries and more enterprises actively explored the markets in the region.
Kunshan-based Hainachuan Optical Technology Co Ltd specializes in the research and development, production, and sales of swimming goggles, buoyancy aids and other water sports supplies. Hainachuan's customs manager, Gao Feng, said the company has received an increasing number of oversea orders for its products, especially after May when sports like diving, rafting, surfing, and water parks resumed their activities for the season.
In addition to the European and North American markets, the company has explored its presence in Central Asian markets for the first time. At the beginning, the company was uncertain about exporting due to various requirements related to technical standards, market access, packaging, transport, and other aspects, according to Gao.
To address these concerns, Kunshan Customs House, which is subordinate to Nanjing Customs District, helped collect information of foreign regulations and standards for swimming goggles, and supported the company in developing a safety guideline on optical performance.
With comprehensive support from customs authorities, Gao said the company was able to familiarize itself with regulations and standards in the targeted markets and also successfully upgraded products.
Home appliances are also favored by the Central Asian markets. Under the supervision of Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP) Customs House, also subordinate to Nanjing Customs District, Suzhou Samsung Electronics (SSEC) successfully exported home appliances parts worth 120,000 yuan to Uzbekistan.
SSEC's international trade director, Tan Meifang, said the parts will be assembled in Uzbekistan and then sent to local consumers. Tan also said SSEC's exports to the five Central Asian countries reached 128 million yuan during the first four months of the year, an increase of 72.86% year on year.
As enterprises set their sights on Central Asia, the freight train services have registered rapid growth. On May 12, under the supervision of Lianyungang Customs House, a total of 207 vehicles that made a transit stop in the city were loaded into special car transportation wagons. They will be shipped by cargo train to Central Asian countries along the New Eurasian Land Bridge (NELB), an international passageway with Lianyungang as a key hub.
