A photo taken on Dec 11, 2018 shows goods in storage at a textile market in Nantong, East China’s Jiangsu province. The goods were being stocked in preparation for the Double Twelve (Dec 12) Shopping Festival. [Photo/IC]

The city of Nantong aims to boost the development of valuable new types of foreign trade over the next five years, according to a recently-released government document.

Targeted new trade sectors include cross-border e-commerce, market procurement trade, and integrated foreign trade service firms, which are expected to make up 20 percent of the city’s total foreign trade volume within the next five years.

Nantong intends to meet its objectives by building new industrial parks, as well as improving the local business environment and enacting preferential policies.

New government initiatives will target investment, publicity, industrial transformation, and the recruitment and training of skilled workers. With upgraded financial and logistics services, Nantong aims to create an extremely favorable business environment for foreign trade.

In addition, the local government plans to expedite construction of a cross-border e-commerce demonstration area, an international logistics zone, and a number of other industrial parks with diversified functions serving international trade.

And an online information platform will be developed to streamline foreign trade procedures and promote the application of big data to the industry.

The city will also strengthen ties with renowned exhibition service companies and leading online platforms, such as Amazon and Alibaba, to help local businesses expand into overseas markets.