(CFP Photo)

Jiangsu Province saw significant growth in its cross-border e-commerce trade in the first four months of this year.

Jiangsu Soho Textile Group, a leading textile enterprise with a long history, has in recent years vigorously developed new forms of cross-border trade based on its industrial chain. From January to April, the group’s exports through cross-border e-commerce increased by 113% year-on-year.

"At the Canton Fair that just concluded, the group welcomed more than 1,200 domestic and foreign buyers, and reached letters of intention worth over $10 million,” said Liu Chao, deputy general manager of the group.

Last year, the province announced an action plan to promote the high-quality development of cross-border e-commerce for 2023-2025, encouraging enterprises to leverage online channels to expand markets. Currently, the province has established a comprehensive cross-border e-commerce ecosystem, underpinned by platforms, logistics and payments.

“As a traditional trade province, Jiangsu can accelerate product innovation and restructure the industrial chain by embracing cross-border e-commerce, which is of great significance to promote digital transformation and high-quality trade development,” said Zhou Rui, an associate researcher at the Jiangsu Provincial Academy of Social Sciences.

In terms of local implementation, Nanjing has adopted a new development model, gradually establishing four export zones dedicated to intelligent manufacturing, outdoor products, power tools, textiles and clothing.

The city of Suzhou boasts a strong manufacturing foundation beneficial for the development of cross-border e-commerce. Suzhou is home to companies producing high-value and branded consumer goods, such as power tools, smart home appliances, textile and clothing, and wedding dresses. The city also serves as a significant supplier of automobile and motorcycle parts products, solar energy equipment and machinery, from intermediate to manufactured goods.

Pilot bonded areas have played a crucial role in advancing cross-border e-commerce across the province. For example, Yancheng began its pilot cross-border e-commerce business in a bonded area in 2017, which was upgraded to a national-level pilot zone in 2020. Customs statistics show that Yancheng's cross-border e-commerce import and export grew by 69% year-on-year in 2023.