OREANDA-NEWS. September 25, 2015. The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), Sajid Javid, signed a partnership agreement on behalf of UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) with the Shanghai Cross-Border e-Commerce Public Platform on 23 September 2015.

The signing took place at the first ever China-UK Cross-Border e-commerce Cooperation Roundtable organised by the Bank of China in Shanghai.

Support for UK online retailers

The partnership was organised as part of UKTI’s e-Exporting Programme. The agreement will support UK exporters and help promote their online sales in China by helping them to:

  • find new customers
  • build brand awareness
  • analyse Chinese consumer requirements

Partnership agreement

The Shanghai Cross-border e-commerce Public Platform will work with UKTI to:

  • provide help to UK companies wishing to sign up to e-commerce platforms registered in the Shanghai Free Trade Zone (SFTZ)
  • encourage e-commerce platforms registered in the SFTZ to run a marketing campaign promoting UK brands on their platforms
  • share information to help UK companies understand the opportunities in China and how they can be optimised through e-channels in the SFTZ

UKTI will work to grow the volume of UK online exports to China through the SFTZ e-marketplace by:

  • delivering a programme with UK partners to increase the number of companies seeking to export through global e-marketplaces
  • promoting opportunities for UK companies to grow their business in China through e-marketplaces
  • working with partners and private sector experts to provide peer to peer mentoring for UK companies seeking to export through e-channels
  • delivering a retail and brands campaign across relevant e-commerce platforms in the SFTZ

Shanghai Cross-border E-commerce Public Platform

The Shanghai Cross-border E-commerce Public Platform aims to share information and jointly solve problems such as:

  • counterfeit products
  • complicated customs procedures
  • cross-border foreign exchange settlement
  • exchange and refund

The platform links the regulatory bodies (customs, foreign exchange, inspection and quarantine, and taxation) with sellers, consumers, payment institutions, logistics companies, and a China e-Port Data Centre.

It was built by the Shanghai municipal government.

UKTI’s e-Exporting Programme

By joining UKTI’s e-Exporting Programme, UK retailers and brands can reach consumers overseas through e-marketplaces.