Interpretation of the Notice of the General Office of the People's Government of Shandong Province on Further Promoting Logistics Cost Reduction and Efficiency Enhancement to Promote the Development of the Real Economy

Commentary: Logistics cost is a component of enterprise product cost, and the level of logistics cost directly affects the cost of enterprise products. Only by reducing logistics costs can we effectively lower the cost of product circulation. Logistics costs are closely related to enterprises.

1、 Background interpretation

The logistics industry is a composite service industry that connects production and consumption, integrates transportation, warehousing, freight forwarding, and information industries, runs through the primary, secondary, and tertiary industries, involves a wide range of fields, has great development potential, and has a strong driving effect. It is a fundamental and strategic industry that supports the development of the national economy. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that "the logistics industry is connected to production and consumption at one end, and its position in the market economy is becoming increasingly prominent." In recent years, the provincial party committee and government have attached great importance to the development of modern logistics, and have successively issued a series of policy measures to support the development of the logistics industry, such as the "Implementation Plan for the Transformation and Upgrading of the Logistics Industry in Shandong Province" (2015-2020) (Lu Zheng Ban Zi [2015] No. 205), the "Implementation Plan for the Special Action to Reduce Costs and Increase Efficiency in the Logistics Industry in Shandong Province" (Lu Zheng Ban Fa [2017] No. 50), and the "Implementation Plan for Accelerating the Development of Cold Chain Logistics to Ensure Food Safety and Promote Consumption Upgrading" (Lu Zheng Ban Fa [2018] No. 6). The logistics development environment continues to be optimized. The demand in the logistics market continues to expand, and logistics operations are showing a trend of improving quality and efficiency, stabilizing and improving. The transformation and upgrading of the logistics industry, as well as reducing costs and increasing efficiency, have achieved significant results, The quality and efficiency of logistics development have steadily improved. It has played an important role in guiding production, expanding consumption, increasing employment, promoting industrial integration and development, and improving the level of supply chain integration services. The issuance of the "Notice of the General Office of the People's Government of Shandong Province on Further Promoting Logistics Cost Reduction and Efficiency Enhancement to Promote the Development of the Real Economy" (hereinafter referred to as the "Notice") will be of great significance for further optimizing the logistics development environment, promoting logistics cost reduction and efficiency enhancement, cultivating new driving forces for economic development, promoting industrial structure adjustment and regional coordinated development, especially for the development of the real economy.

2、 Drafting process

In September 2017, the Provincial Economic and Information Technology Commission received the "Opinions on Further Promoting Logistics Cost Reduction and Efficiency Enhancement to Promote the Development of the Real Economy" (Guobanfa [2017] No. 73) forwarded by the Provincial Government Office to the State Council Office, requiring our commission to work with relevant units to study and implement it in combination with the actual situation of our province. In October 2017, our committee began drafting the "Implementation Opinions on Further Promoting Logistics Cost Reduction and Efficiency Enhancement to Promote the Development of the Real Economy" (hereinafter referred to as the "Opinions"). In November, according to the task division of document No. 73 issued by the State Council, a letter was sent to relevant departments directly under the provincial government, requesting that implementation measures be proposed based on the responsibilities of each unit. In January 2018, our committee completed the initial draft. In February, the initial draft was revised and improved in accordance with the spirit of the mobilization conference for the major project of converting old and new kinetic energy in our province and some newly introduced policies of the country. In March, a draft for soliciting opinions was formed. After soliciting opinions from 26 departments, units, and some logistics experts including the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Public Security, and the Department of Commerce, and fully absorbing them, a co signed draft was formed. On June 7th, it was sent to 26 relevant departments and units directly under the provincial government for joint signature. Our committee has carefully studied the co signed opinions and communicated with relevant units. We have incorporated all the agreed modifications into the "Opinions" and reflected the latest policy spirit of further reducing logistics costs in the real economy, which was determined at the two State Council executive meetings on May 16 and June 27. On June 30, it was submitted for review to the provincial government executive meeting. According to the requirements of the Provincial Government Office, our committee changed the "Implementation Opinions on Further Promoting Logistics Cost Reduction and Efficiency Enhancement to Promote the Development of the Real Economy" to "Notice", which was issued by the Provincial Government Office on August 17th.

3、 Main content

The Notice, based on the actual situation in our province, puts forward requirements for promoting logistics cost reduction and efficiency improvement to promote the development of the real economy in six aspects, and decomposes specific work tasks into various functional departments (see the attached Key Task Division Table in the Notice for details).

（1） Intensify the reform of logistics management and service, and standardize law enforcement behaviors related to roads. Promote the deepening reform and simplification of logistics processes in terms of business registration, branch filing, annual inspection and review, cross provincial transportation, and traffic management. At the same time, standardize freight law enforcement behavior and strengthen supervision of hazardous chemical transportation loading and unloading processes.

（2） Reduce logistics tax costs and effectively alleviate the burden on enterprises. Clear measures are proposed to reduce the cost of customs clearance for enterprises, reasonably regulate vehicle tolls, implement and improve logistics tax policies, and reduce the burden of logistics fees. These measures aim to promote the reduction of customs clearance tolls, the implementation of tax policies, and the elimination of problems such as "arbitrary charges and fines".

（三）加强物流重点环节建设，提升综合服务能力。聚焦规划布局、物流枢纽、配送网络、多式联运、铁路物流、金融服务等物流发展的重点环节，提出针对性的措施，推动形成政策合力，提升物流综合服务能力。

（四）推动智慧物流发展，提高整体运行效率。通过打造智慧物流平台、推动物流数据互联互通、加强物流智能装备和先进技术应用、推广物流标准化等措施，推动物流信息化、智能化，推动“互联网+”智慧物流体系形成，引导建设智能高效物流。

（五）促进产业融合发展，加强龙头企业培育。结合《〈中国制造2025〉山东省行动纲要》和山东省工业重点行业转型升级行动计划，推动物流业与工业、农业、商贸流通业、交通运输业深度融合发展，打造物流产业集群，培育物流龙头企业和企业家队伍。

（六）加强部门协调联动，营造良好营商环境。发挥省现代物流工作联席会议制度作用，加强组织领导，落实任务分工，及时协调解决政策实施过程中存在的问题，形成共同推进物流业发展的良好氛围。

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