The Haikou Jiangdong New District of China (Hainan) Pilot Free Trade Zone covers 298 square kilometers on the east coast of the city. [Photo by Ma Zhiping/chinadaily.com.cn]

The Haikou Integrated Free Trade Zone (FTZ) completed clearance procedures for its first cross-border e-commerce Business to Customer (B2C) direct purchase business on Aug 31 and will energetically develop the services in September.

The mode of cross-border direct purchase enables domestic consumers to buy overseas products directly from e-commerce transaction platforms networking with customs. Parcels posted from abroad are delivered to consumers after customs supervision and inspection. Its advantages include cheaper prices, up-to-date brand styles and convenient and safe customs clearance.

The first batch cleared on Aug 31 encompassed nearly 1,000 parcels of cosmetics, skin care products, clothes, shoes and hats from Canada and Australia. They were sent to Beijing, Shandong, Guangdong, Shanxi, Shanghai and other places in Hainan province through EMS. This month, more products from North America, East Asia, Australia and Southeast Asia will arrive at the Haikou Integrated FTZ and be distributed nationwide.

The Haikou Integrated FTZ has also taken some innovative measures to promote the building of the China (Hainan) Pilot Free Trade Zone and a free trade port with Chinese characteristics. The 20,000-sq-m warehouse and the 7,000-sq-m international business center of the cross-border e-commerce industrial park have begun serving more than 20 e-commerce enterprises in business. The innovative model integrating cross-border e-commerce with new retail is being promoted to help build Hainan into an international tourist consumption center. Moreover, the FTZ sent staff to famous domestic e-commerce enterprises to promote cooperation with good results.