Logo for the business environment service brand in Nantong, which was released at the news conference held in the city on Feb 8. [Photo/ntfabu.com]

Nantong in East China's Jiangsu province on Feb 8 implemented 66 measures to improve its business environment, according to a news conference held in the city.

These measures will make starting businesses more convenient, administrative approval more efficient, market supervision more reasonable, and legal services more regulated.

The city will improve the functions of its online business platform to allow individuals to start a business online and waive document submission requirements.

Updated registration information of enterprises will be shared among government departments, eliminating the need to visit different departments, and all types of business licenses will be applied for online.

Nantong encourages local companies involved in foreign trade to declare their goods at Nantong Customs before they are transported to customs to ensure they can be handled as soon as they arrive and reduce logistics cost.

The green channel policy at the customs will be applicable to imported food and agricultural products, which will be given priority in customs clearance.

Work and residence permits for foreigners will be applied for at the same place and will be processed within seven working days.

The city will develop self-service equipment for administrative services involving social security, medical insurance, and public reserve funds, and promote the development of a mobile application for these administrative services.

Nantong will also provide local companies with more than 10 billion yuan ($1.57 billion) in bid guarantee service fees and set aside more than 30 percent of the public procurement for small and medium-sized companies if the procurement item is cargo or services worth more than 2 million yuan or a project worth over 4 million yuan.