An intelligent workshop operated by Jiangsu Nisco Smart Home in Nantong. [Photo/WeChat account: ntjoy2012]

As China prepares to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum this year, Nantong Customs in Jiangsu province is capitalizing on this opportunity to bolster the city's trade and economic cooperation with APEC members.

Latest data indicates that from January to April, the city's exports to APEC member economies reached 58.29 billion yuan ($8.58 billion), marking an 8.9 percent increase year-on-year and showcasing robust development resilience.

A prime example is Jiangsu Nisco Smart Home, a national high-tech enterprise located in Rugao, a county-level city of Nantong, which designs and manufactures smart beds featuring innovative functions such as sleep health monitoring and smart adjustment. 

These products are already being exported to several APEC economies, including the United States, Mexico, Thailand, and Australia. In the first four months of this year, the company's total export value surpassed 233 million yuan, reflecting a 58.78 percent year-on-year increase.

"Whether it's exploring new product categories or entering new markets, quick responses are crucial and reliant on customs services and policy support," said Wang Wei, deputy general manager of Nisco.

Since the beginning of this year, the company has applied for 293 preferential certificates of origin, effectively reducing export costs and boosting confidence in expanding its overseas market presence. Currently, the company's orders are booked through September, and sales in the smart furniture segment are anticipated to grow by 20 percent this year.

Xiao Jiewen, head of the Inspection Division at Rugao Customs, said the customs office has innovated its regulatory model by introducing convenient measures such as self-service printing of certificates of origin and intelligent auditing.

Additionally, for high-credit enterprises, remote inspection and other green channel services have been implemented, reducing clearance times by over 40 percent. This has significantly supported companies in securing orders and ensuring timely deliveries, according to Xiao.