A major reform, involving the roll out of a single integrated business license, is being implemented in Qidong. The initiative promises major benefits for commerce. [Photo/ntfabu.com]

The first two integrated business licenses – promising major cuts to costs and a boost to profitability – were issued to a hotel and a pharmacy on May 28 in the county-level city of Qidong, administered by  Nantong in East China's Jiangsu province.

In order to reduce the costs for industry access and pave the way for a better business environment, a "one integrated license" reform is being rolled out in China – in which the current multiple licenses involved in the operation of market entities in a specific industry are integrated within a single, comprehensive one.

As the only reform pilot area in Nantong, the Qidong administrative approval bureau selected 10 industries to be involved. Restaurants, supermarkets, pharmacies, hotels and cinemas were chosen as pilots to establish the efficient coordination and operations system.

Through the reform, approval items have been reduced by an estimated 76 percent, approval times are down by 88 percent, application materials are lower by 67 percent and form-filling has been cut by 60 percent.

Taking pharmacies as an example, it used to take more than 100 working days to obtain all six licenses, but now it can be done within 10.

"The hotel industry used to have to obtain six licenses. Now all affairs can be handled in a single administrative window, which greatly improves efficiency," said Zhang Kun, general manager of the Double Tree Hilton Hotel.

"It is not necessary to handle a lot of licenses now. We can scan the QR code on the one integrated license and look over the detailed licenses on the mobile phone."