Foreign invested enterprises in Shenzhen are expected to find the previously time-consuming annual inspection, which is jointly undertaken by six government bodies and the customs, greatly simplified this year with the launch of an online filing system.

 

The system, which was launched yesterday, is accessible through the municipal government Web site www.sz.gov.cn, the industry and commerce bureau Web site www.szaic.gov.cn and an information center Web site www.szcredit.com.cn.

 

"Last year, foreign invested enterprises had to file for annual inspection both online and with printed documents, while this year all the application and approval processes can be finished online," said Xing Baohua with the foreign invested enterprises registration and management section of the city's industry and commerce bureau.

 

Enterprises can print the approved documents through the network and present them to the bureau with their business licenses and other relevant documents, thus completing the entire annual inspection process.

 

For enterprises that are unable to file documents using the Internet, the bureau's branches offer free computer services, although the online procedure is recommended. "It takes more time (to go to the branches) as the enterprise representatives may have to go there several times to get required data," Xing said.

 

Prior to the introduction of the new process, enterprise representatives had to visit the Citizens' Center inside the special economic zone or the bureau's branches in Longgang and Bao'an outside the special economic zone for the annual inspection.

 

Last year, a total of 12,099 foreign-invested enterprises, including those funded by Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan companies, went through the annual inspection, Xing said.

 

(Shenzhen Daily March 14, 2006)