Tai'an is implementing a new phase of foreign trade enhancement, focusing on policies, markets, and services to guide companies towards new international opportunities and sustain foreign trade growth, local media reported.

For instance, The Best Project Materials Co, specializing in providing global clients with integrated services in the research, production, sale, and export of geosynthetic materials, mainly exports its geomembrane products to Europe, the Association of Southeast Asia Nations, and South Africa.

"After learning about our difficulties, the commerce department increased subsidies for shipping costs and overseas exhibitions, which has alleviated some of our burdens," said Bi Pengfei, the company's foreign trade manager.

"In the first five months of this year, our orders exceeded 100 million yuan (13.77 million), a 10 percent increase compared to the same period last year," Bi added.

Workers of The Best Project Materials Co are seen preparing products for shipment. [Photo/Tai'an Daily]

This year, Tai'an has introduced several policies, including measures to "maintain the foreign trade scale and optimize its structure" and a 2024 plan to explore key overseas markets. These initiatives aim to help foreign trade companies accurately target markets, secure orders, stabilize their market share, optimize export product structures, and promote the development of new foreign trade models.

Chen Yiqin, chief operating officer of Tai'an Havay Group Co - a high-tech company specializing in nutrition, biomedicine, resource-based products, and special chemicals - said that the commerce department has promptly responded to the company's needs, providing it with policies and information, boosting the company's development confidence and motivation. From January to May, Havay Group's imports and exports were valued at $25.1 million, a year-on-year increase of 16 percent.

From January to May this year, Tai'an's total foreign trade hit 18.99 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 34.1 percent and ranking second in the province. Exports totaled 15.66 billion yuan, up 32 percent, while imports reached 3.34 billion yuan, up 45 percent.

A pile of products of Tai'an Havay Group Co. [Photo/Tai'an Daily]