HUANGPU SHANGHAI

A customs staff member (R) issues an AEO certification to a Urumqi-based foreign trade company. [Photo/xinjiangnet.com.cn]

Four enterprises in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region have obtained Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) certification this year, bringing the total number of companies with the qualification to 156, including 28 with AEO senior certification, according to Urumqi customs.

Holders of AEO certifications are entitled to benefits akin to obtaining a green permit for international trade, so they can empower enterprises' efforts to broaden their business in overseas markets.

Last year, Xinjiang cultivated 63 companies with AEO certification and the customs offices of Wuchang, Kashi and Yining contributed 80 percent of the total.

"Although companies with the qualification account for only 1 percent of Xinjiang's foreign trade enterprises, their import and export volumes account for nearly 40 percent of Xinjiang's total. They are also the direct beneficiaries of AEO's mutual recognition of international trade facilitation, and play a key role in stabilizing foreign trade," said Zhang Jun, an official from Urumqi customs.

He added that they will encourage more enterprise to apply for the AEO certifications this year.

Urumqi customs will further innovate the management of credit and help select target enterprises for AEO cultivation. It will also offer tailored guidance and preliminary review services to the applicants both online and offline.

Wang Lijun, a senior executive of a Urumqi-based biotechnology company, said they will try to obtain senior certification through optimizing their management.

The senior certification will benefit the products’ brand value and help boost the company’s global competitiveness, Wang explained.

The AEO company obtained qualification from Wuchang customs not long ago.

AEO is a system advocated by the World Customs Organization (WCO) to promote safety and convenience in the international supply chain.

It aims to provide customs certifications to enterprises with high levels of compliance, credit status, and safety, as well as to provide eligible enterprises with customs clearance measures in their own countries and in mutually recognized countries.

Currently, China has achieved AEO mutual recognition with 15 economic entities, as well as 42 countries and regions. It is also encouraging more companies from economies related to the Belt and Road Initiative to join the AEO certification program.