The China (Anhui) Pilot Free Trade Zone issues first business license after implementing business registration reform on Dec 16. [Photo/WeChat account: hefeigaoxinfabu]

The Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone section in the China (Anhui) Pilot Free Trade Zone (FTZ) has taken the lead to pilot Anhui's business registration reform in the FTZ.

A technology enterprise in Hefei obtained the first business license at the government service center in the Hefei high-tech zone on Dec 16 after the FTZ implemented business registration reform.

Thanks to the reform, which has streamlined the registration process, the legal representative of the enterprise said she just filled in several application forms online in the morning and to her surprise, obtained a business license in the afternoon the very same day, which saved the enterprise a great deal of time.

According to the local market supervision bureau, enterprises can apply on the new business registration system on Anhui's government service platform. After a review of information they submitted, the business license can be finished in one hour.

The Hefei high-tech zone has been pushing the development of the FTZ, which accounts for around one quarter of the zone's total area, by improving services for enterprises and aiming to be a testing ground for high-level reform and opening up as well as a fore-runner in innovation-driven development.

This year, there are more than 5,000 newly registered companies in the zone's FTZ area, accounting for 30 percent of the zone's total. From January to August, the total output of industries above designated size was 85.9 billion yuan ($13.49 billion) and the imports and exports reached $2.47 billion in the FTZ area, accounting for 62 percent and 55 percent, respectively, of the zone's total.

The new business registration system is now available online on Anhui's government service platform. [Photo/WeChat account: hefeigaoxinfabu]