??? QINGDAO bonded harbor zone has developed fast over recent years. ??? Its total production volume was 10.525 billion yuan last year. Its imports and exports reached US$9.54 billion, increasing by 65.47 percent over 2010. Cargo throughput last year was 77.98 million tons, an increase of 34.12 percent over the previous year, while container throughput reached 7.42 million standard units, an increase of 14.33 percent. It has become an important engine in quickening the development of the city’s west coast. ??? Harbor growth ??? In the bonded zone, the preferential policies have helped quicken its development. The city carried out a series of policies to simplify procedures such as fewer documents, a shorter waiting period and longer operation hours. ??? More than 3,000 high-end logistics companies have come to operate here due to the simplicity of procedures. More than 20 international shipping giants are setting up their regional distribution centers in the zone, while 18 airlines signed contracts to set up transit ports. ??? Although it covers an area of no more than 10 square kilometers, the zone has become a model of the city’s development. ??? Last year, Panasonic moved their original equipment to Vietnam and introduced advanced technology and production lines to Qingdao, aiming at building a world-class international electronics production base and research and development centers. ??? The country’s first overseas tobacco international purchasing center, international product trading center, Chinese tire export distribution base and several leading logistics companies’ distribution centers were built in the zone. ??? In 2011, the transaction volume in the zone was about 57.09 million tons and the amount reached 94 billion yuan. Among these, the rubber market is now the world’s third biggest natural rubber trading center and China’s only imported rubber pricing center, while the international product exchange center is the country’s first batch of modern services model companies. Meanwhile, the zone is also exploring areas such as the gold market, financial market, international secondary metal exchange center, textile and salt markets, making the zone an important international trading center in North China. ??? A total of 415 key projects were introduced to the harbor last year. ??? New mode ??? The zone also cooperates with cities and areas such as Weifang, Dongying, Linxi, Dezhou and Jiaonan, seeking further development with neighboring areas. ??? Jiaonan functional zone signed a contract with China Rubber Valley, aiming at becoming a domestic base for the rubber industry. The bonded harbor also introduces preferential policies to help companies operate in the area. ??? Development of the west coast economic new zone has sped up, bringing new opportunities to the harbor area. “The bonded zone will become a first-class harbor for free trade, building more platforms for the province’s development,” said Wang Huaiyue, director of the management committee of the zone. (Wang Yuanyuan, Duan Xiaodong) ? | 