From 'borrowing a ship to sail' to 'building a ship to sail' Chongqing opens up a 'new channel' for the integrated development of domestic and foreign trade

From 'borrowing a ship to sail' to 'building a ship to sail'  Chongqing opens up a 'new channel' for the integrated development of domestic and foreign trade

In the tide of the globalized economy, the integrated development of domestic and foreign trade has become an important breakthrough for driving the transformation and upgrading of regional economies. Chongqing has been deeply exploring the integrated development of domestic and foreign trade, strengthening the cultivation of industrial clusters and brand building in key areas, and innovating a "new channel" led by optimizing industrial clusters and supported by enhancing brand value. It has achieved a shift from "borrowing a ship to go to sea" to "building a ship to go to sea", providing a vivid sample for inland areas to explore high-level opening up to the outside world.

The integrated development of industrial clusters boosts the expansion of the "international map"

Cultivating a number of leading enterprises with international competitiveness and equal emphasis on domestic and foreign trade in key areas, as well as industrial clusters with integrated development of domestic and foreign trade, is the core carrier for the integrated development of domestic and foreign trade. Take the National Foreign Trade Transformation and Upgrading Base (General Machinery) in Hechuan District, which was approved as a pilot base for the integrated development and reform of domestic and foreign trade in Chongqing this year, and the Chongqing Xiushan High-tech Industrial Development Zone as examples. Through resource integration and optimal allocation, the overall competitiveness and risk resistance capacity of the industries in the two places have been significantly enhanced.

Focusing on the general machinery industry, Hechuan District has implemented a gradient cultivation plan for small and medium-sized enterprises and a "double increase" plan for high-tech enterprises and technology-based enterprises, optimizing the industrial ecosystem. As a result, a number of leading enterprises with industry influence have emerged in the base, such as Dinggong Electromechanical, Guoyu Technology, and Maifeng Power.

Among them, Chongqing Dinggong Electromechanical has independently developed in areas such as silent variable frequency generator sets and has become one of the most comprehensive service providers in the category of small digital intelligent power supplies, with an annual production capacity of 800,000 sets. The company's "international territory" is also constantly expanding, with its products covering over 50 countries and regions, and its sales share in the global general machinery industry ranks among the top.

The National Foreign Trade Transformation and Upgrading Base (General Machinery) within the zone has thus emerged, gathering 5 national-level "little giant" enterprises, 52 municipal-level specialized, refined, distinctive and innovative enterprises, 62 high-tech enterprises, and 2 AEO advanced certified enterprises, among others. In 2024, the general machinery industry in the entire region achieved an import and export volume of 550 million yuan, representing a year-on-year growth of 21.7%.

To support the better connection between domestic and international markets for characteristic industries, Xiushan County has vigorously promoted the development of "cross-border e-commerce + industrial belts", established the Wuling Mountain Brand Overseas Expansion Joint Operation Center, and created the "True Box Overseas Expansion" and "Hui Wei Xiu Zhong" cross-border e-commerce incubators. It has attracted and cultivated 40 cross-border e-commerce enterprises and 200 cross-border stores, with over 10,000 products listed and exported to nearly 70 countries and regions. Sales have exceeded 50 million yuan, driving more traditional industries such as citrus, textiles and electronic information to go global.

In addition, the overseas brand "Xiuyuan · Qingshan" has opened official flagship stores on cross-border platforms such as Amazon and Shopee. Local processing enterprises have jointly completed FDA certification for five factories, driving the cross-border sales of products such as mountain silver flower coffee and freeze-dried citrus.

Diversified and three-dimensional brand building products achieve "breaking through the circle and going global"

Brand is a core element for enterprises to participate in market competition and also a key support for the integrated development of domestic and foreign trade. Chongqing's domestic trade enterprises have been actively exploring the cultivation of their own brands and enhancing brand awareness and reputation, thus opening up a new and broad path for "going global".

Chongqing Rui bamboo Plant Fiber Products, located in Zhongxian County, is committed to creating its own brands such as "Rui Bamboo", "Zhu Zhi Lang" and "Rui Bamboo". Offline, we cooperate with domestic supermarkets and chain stores such as New Century, Chongqing Department Store and Yonghui to set up special zones and counters. Set up independent websites on well-known e-commerce platforms such as Alibaba International Station, Amazon and 1688 online. The all-channel and diversified brand building and promotion that integrates online and offline have continuously enhanced the comprehensive value of Ruizhu. The "Rui bamboo" brand is highly favored by customers in regions such as Europe, America, Japan and South Korea, and the customer repurchase rate has reached 68%. Meanwhile, Ruizhu has actively appeared on international stages such as the United Nations Climate Change Conference and the World Bamboo and Rattan Conference, setting industry benchmarks. By participating in international exhibitions, Ruizhu has cumulatively obtained intention orders worth over 200 million yuan, achieving a leapfrog development of the brand's internationalization.

Chongqing Weijin Ecological Agriculture, an enterprise in Yubei District, has keenly perceived the growing demand for functional health foods in overseas markets. Relying on its advantages in wild-like planting under the forest, it has created international brand images such as "organic planting" and "international certification". We have meticulously cultivated 16 brand trademarks including "Tianxian Cave", and conducted in-depth exploration and dissemination around brand stories, product features, cultural connotations, etc., precisely catering to the global consumption trend of "punk health preservation". Our products have entered Southeast Asian markets such as Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand.

In April this year, the "Tianxian Cave Ganoderma lucidum Coffee" developed by Chongqing Weijin Ecological Agriculture successfully entered the European and American markets, signing orders worth tens of millions of yuan. This provides a new idea for agricultural products to "break through the circle and go global", and achieve the transformation from "single domestic sales" to "two-way circulation".

Changan Automobile in Jiangbei District has put into use a C2M flexible factory. Through the "order-based manufacturing" service model, it has comprehensively increased manufacturing efficiency by 20%, reduced costs by 20%, and cut energy consumption by 19%. The order delivery cycle has been shortened by 3 to 7 days, enhancing the international market competitiveness of "Chongqing vehicles going global". In 2024, Changan Automobile's overseas sales of its self-owned brands increased by 49.6% year-on-year, injecting strong impetus into Chongqing's efforts to build itself into "China's No. 1 Automobile City".

Chongqing has effectively strengthened the hard and soft power of domestic trade enterprises in competing in the international market by optimizing industrial clusters and building international brands. A relevant official from the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Commerce stated that they will continue to deepen the integrated development of domestic and foreign trade, strengthen the construction of industrial clusters and brands in key areas, promote more domestic trade enterprises to enter the international market, and achieve a higher level of opening up and higher-quality development. (Yu Fang

The content is sourced from the International Business Daily