Foreign chambers and enterprises speak highly of online seminar about Shanghai's policies of empowering work resumption
An online seminar concerning Shanghai's policies of empowering work resumption for foreign enterprises was held online on May 12. It was part of the effort to coordinate epidemic prevention and control as well as economic and social development, while actively and steadily achieving the goal of stabilizing foreign trade and investment. The seminar was jointly hosted by the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce (SMCC) and the Shanghai People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (SPAFFC).
The meeting was hosted by Jing Ying, vice president of the Shanghai People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. Shen Weihua, deputy director of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce, briefed everyone on Shanghai’s policies of work resumption amid the epidemic. 3 representative enterprises introduced their experience in resuming work and production. 10 representatives of foreign chambers of commerce in Shanghai and over 30 representatives of foreign-invested enterprises and foreign trade enterprises, including Mitsubishi Corporation (Shanghai) Limited, attended the online meeting.
Work resumption is occurring at the right time and we have heard your voices
"More than 70 percent of Shanghai's over 1,800 major enterprises have resumed work and production, and the resumption rate of the first batch of above 660 key industrial enterprises in the city has exceeded 90 percent. Foreign enterprises have become an important part of Shanghai’s economic and social development. In the past week, we have collected information on the problems and demands of foreign enterprises in resuming work and production through some foreign chambers in Shanghai. We have learned of foreign enterprises' demands, and the difficulties which foreign enterprises have encountered in the epidemic prevention and control have really struck a chord," said Jing Ying.
Feedback about the production and operation needs of enterprises from these foreign chambers in Shanghai to the SPAFFC are included in those areas, such as application for resumption of work, coordinated work resumption of key industrial and supply chains, logistics and transportation, and employees returning to work, especially in key positions.
Representatives of foreign-invested enterprises share their experience on how to implement work resumption step by step
Three enterprises, representing foreign-invested enterprises, micro- and small-sized enterprises (MSEs) and state-run enterprises respectively, shared their experience in resuming work and production.
Ikea Trade Service (China) Co., Ltd. is a multinational company that has been deeply rooted in Shanghai for many years and Qiao Hua, managing director of the company shared three pieces of experience in resuming work and production: firstly, closely following-up and understanding Shanghai's policies of production resumption amid the epidemic; secondly, gradually resuming work and production in key areas according to the characteristics of the company; thirdly, ensuring the physical and mental health and safety of their employees.
Luo Yongping, general manager of Shanghai Laosi Import & Export Co., Ltd. shared his own experience of resuming work and production as an MSEs owner with several vivid and real cases. These included the efficient completion of online electronic exchange of orders, truck drivers obtaining special shipping permits through green channels, confirming foreign exchange payments via video call, efficiently applying for import permits and the smooth customs clearance of containers.
Chen Yunliang, the executive director of Orient International Logistics (Holding) Co., Ltd., introduced in detail the operation and work resumption of the company's various businesses such as sea import and export, air freight import and export and container trucking.
Shanghai treats domestic and foreign enterprises equally
Shen Weihua, deputy director of the SMCC, introduced in detail a series of documents and the policy evolution of the Shanghai municipal government promoting the resumption of work and production.
At the same time, Shen Weihua responded positively to questions related to standards and transparency in the whitelist making, nucleic acid testing in enterprises, the import and export of raw materials, and employees returning to work. He also showed similarities and differences among various types of passes related to work resumption. Shen Weihua pointed out that Shanghai protects the rights and interests of foreign business people. During the current wave of COVID-19 in Shanghai, the city has strictly carried out the principle of treating domestic and foreign enterprises equally, and enabled foreign enterprises to enjoy various supporting policies just the same as domestic ones. Finally, he said that Shanghai insists on following the dynamic zero-Covid policy, and the policy of resuming work and production is also dynamically adjusted with the situation of epidemic prevention and control. The SMCC has set up a chief service commissioner system for enterprises, and will answer to and solve the concerns and demands of foreign chambers and foreign enterprises in Shanghai regarding the resumption of work and production.
Some representatives of foreign chambers and foreign enterprises in Shanghai all gave positive feedbacks after the online meeting, saying that they are grateful to the SPAFFC for building a bridge between enterprises and government. They also expressed their gratitude to the SMCC for giving professional explanations of Shanghai's policies of work resumption amid the epidemic, which responded to enterprises' demands in a timely, pragmatic and efficient manner and helped them to study and judge the policy.
（Source: SPAFFC）