The Weifang Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone is taking measures to support business development and accelerate key projects construction in the area, by improving project approval efficiency and innovating its service models.

This year, four government departments of the zone have made considerable efforts to shorten approval processes: the economic development, education, urban planning and urban construction bureaus.

The targeted processes involve six types of projects, including those related to industry, real estate and shanty town upgrades, and government-supported public school construction.

"We strive to approve projects in the shortest time. We have canceled unnecessary steps in the approval processes and project applications will be processed by several government departments at a time rather than one-by-one," said Chen Jiancheng, director of the zone's government service center.

The zone has designed and printed detailed approval procedures so businesses can know exactly what should be done to gain project approval, which government department will process their applications and how long the process will take.

Currently, industrial project approval takes 33 working days, a decrease from 78 working days in previous years. Real estate project approval takes 37 working days, a decrease from 78 working days in 2016. Government-supported public school construction projects require 56 working days to gain approval, decreasing from 136 working days last year.

Zhao Xia, manager of a real estate project in the zone, said that the improved approval efficiency helps companies to reduce financial burdens and gain investment returns much more quickly.

Shengrui Transmission, developer of the world's first front-engine, front-drive 8-gear auto transmission, is also benefiting from the zone's efforts.

The Shengrui's residential community construction project, designed to support businesses moving into Shengrui's Auto Gearbox Industrial Park, obtained approval from the authority in about a month.

The second phase of the industrial park, which will launch construction soon, is also benefiting from the zone's improved approval efficiency.

The industrial park will produce all the spare parts for Shengrui upon completion, which will help to significantly lower the company's logistics and packaging costs.

The zone's efforts to enhance approval efficiency has helped the government to strengthen its reputation for credibility and reliability among the local people.

Qi Zhenjie, who is in charge of the second phase of construction of Qinghe Community East, said that improved government approval speed and efficiency strongly supported shanty town demolition and upgrade projects in the zone.

Wang Weidong contributed to this story.

(China Daily 10/10/2017 page12)