Since it was put into use three years ago, TianjinInternational Shipping Service Center notonly improves the image of Tianjin Port andservices but also elevates the influence of Tianjinin circum-Bohai Bay region and the areasof Northwest, Northeast and West of China.It also plays an active role in accelerating thepace of the Binhai New Area to become NorthChina international shipping centre and internationallogistics enter and provide service forregional economy.

According to the Report on the Research ofTianjin International Trade and the OperationEfficiency of Shipping Center released by aninternational famous research organization, theoperation of service center shortens the cycleof goods turnover evidently and increases theturnover frequency of funds. The research reportpoints out that although the service centerhas only been put into use for one year, it hasalready directly saved economic cost for RMB61.56 million yuan for enterprises, including thecost of manpower, transportation and storage.In 2007, the value of import and export goodshandled by the service center was about US$ 97.7billion, of which each US$ 125 million of interestscan be saved with each one day reduced intotal time for customs clearance.

In 2005, Tianjin International Shipping ServiceCenter, which is one of the key projects of thecomprehensive complementary reform in theBinhai New Area, was put into use. It’s not onlythe preliminary project and landmark buildingof Tianjin International Trade and Shipping ServiceZone but also a “one-stop” internationaltrade and shipping service center of the largestscale, most functions and most advanced facilitiesin China so far. Designed according to thestandard of “grand, vogue and modern”, theconstruction was finished with high standardin only 8 months. The operation of the centerplays a major role in accelerating the developmentof the Binhai New Area.

The design of the appearance of the servicecenter pursues elegance, solemnity and concise,instead of grandeur or luxury. The designgives prominence to spatial variation of differentusing functions. From law enforcement toflexible business, the center presents variousspaces for various-purposed communication.The unique design creates a comfortable andelegant working environment.

The service center integrates six functions,which are government services, internationaltrade, market operation, information distribution,social supervision and talent exchange.It’s a place that provides services for importand export of goods, exit-entry of ships andrelated staff in Tianjin Port. It’s also a key platformfor business activities like internationaltrade and shipping exchange.

The service center holds the concept of “administratingby law, optimizing the environment,promoting economy and coordinatingthe development”. It unswervingly serves thepublic and provides the platform of internationaltrade and “simplified customs formalities”for inland import and export enterprises,which plays an essential role in reducing thetrade cost, improving the efficiency of customsclearance and realizing the transformation ofTianjin Port from a traditional, managementtype into a modern and service-oriented type.The center tries its best to create a better environmentfor customs clearance.

The service center has 13 government departmentsand over 50 offices, involving enterprisesof port, shipping, logistics, customs clearance,forwarder, vessel-agency, finance, insuranceand mail and departments of e-port and informationcenter of quarantine inspection. The“one-stop” service mechanism sets over 400service windows, which forms a new system ofcustoms clearance service that includes changingdocument, applying to customs, surveyingand customs clearance and also transactingprocedures for picking up goods.

By effectively improving the work efficiency ofport, the working efficiency of enterprises hasbeen improved greatly, which directly or indirectlysaves great amount of time for shippers.Now the time to transact comprehensive customsclearance is two to three hours, 58 hoursless than that in the past.

At the same time, the cost of customs clearanceis reduced and the economic benefits ofenterprises are increased. By providing “onestop”service, the service center reduces thetime that goods stayed at the port, acceleratesthe logistics at the port, lowers down the costof logistics for enterprises and shippers andalso effectively controls the cost of traffic andhuman power.