Circular on Further Improving the Work of Attracting Foreign Investment into the Logistics Sector

关于进一步做好物流领域吸引外资工作的通知

In order to further open up the logistics sector to foreign investment in pilot projects, the term 'foreign-invested logistics enterprises' has been expanded and foreign investors may now apply to establish foreign-invested logistics enterprises and engage in one or more types of logistics business.

Clp Reference: 4000/06.04.20 Promulgated: 2006-04-20 Effective: 2006-03-31

(Issued by the Ministry of Commerce on April 20 2006 and effective as of March 31 2006.)

(商务部于二零零六年四月二十日发布，自二零零六年三月三十一日起施行。)

Shang Zi Han [2006] No.38

商资函[2006]38号

Competent commercial authorities of the provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the central government, municipalities with independent development plans and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corp:

各省、自治区、直辖市、计划单列市及新疆生产建设兵团商务主管部门：

Since 2002, we have, in line with the spirit of the Circular on Issues Relevant to the Launch of Pilot Projects for the Establishment of Foreign-invested Logistics Enterprises (the Pilot Circular), approved the establishment of numerous foreign-invested logistics enterprises in the pilot regions. The launch of these pilot projects has had a positive effect on the healthy development of China's international trade and modern logistics sector. We hereby notify you on the further opening up of the logistics sector to foreign investment on the foundation of the pilot projects and promotion of the further development of foreign-invested logistics enterprises as follows:

2002年以来，我部根据《关于开展试点设立外商投资物流企业工作有关问题的通知》(以下简称《通知》)的精神，在各试点地区批准设立一批外商投资物流企业。试点工作的开展，对我国国际贸易和现代物流业的健康发展起到了积极的作用。现就在试点基础上扩大物流领域对外开放，促进外商投资物流类企业的进一步发展通知如下：

1. The term 'foreign-invested logistics enterprises' means foreign-invested enterprises whose core business is the provision of logistics and related services to other enterprises, and include foreign-invested road transport enterprises, foreign-invested water transport enterprises, foreign-invested air transport enterprises, foreign-invested freight forwarding agencies, foreign-invested commercial enterprises, foreign-invested third party logistics enterprises and other foreign-invested enterprises that engage in logistics or logistics related business.

一、   外商投资物流类企业是指以为其他企业提供物流及其他相关服务为主要经营活动的外商投资企业，包括外商投资道路运输企业、外商投资水路运输企业、外商投资航空运输企业、外商投资货运代理企业、外商投资商业企业、外商投资第三方物流企业及从事其他物流或物流相关业务的外商投资企业。

2. Foreign investors may apply to establish foreign-invested logistics enterprises and engage in one or more types of logistics business pursuant to the Provisions for the Administration of Foreign Investment in the Road Transport Industry, the Provisions for the Administration of Foreign Investment in the International Maritime Transport Industry, the Provisions on Foreign Investment in Civil Aviation, the Tentative Measures for the Examination, Approval and Administration of Foreign Investment in Freight Transport by Rail, the Measures for the Administration of Foreign-invested International Freight Forwarding Agencies, the Measures for the Administration of Foreign Investment in the Commercial Sector and other laws and regulations on foreign investment. When an applicant applies to engage in more than one type of logistics business, it shall comply with the most demanding requirements in respect of the qualification conditions for engaging in the types of logistics business that it is applying for.

二、   外国投资者可以根据《外商投资道路运输业管理规定》、《外商投资国际海运业管理规定》、《外商投资民用航空业规定》、《外商投资铁路货物运输审批与管理暂行办法》、《外商投资国际货物运输代理企业管理办法》、《外商投资商业领域管理办法》及其他外商投资法律法规，申请设立外商投资物流类企业，从事一项或多项物流业务。其中申请从事多项物流业务的，应符合分别从事所申请的各项物流业务的资格条件要求中的最高条件。

3. Given that the pilot projects for the establishment of foreign-invested logistics enterprises have produced good results, foreign investors are hereby permitted to establish foreign-invested logistics enterprises in the form of equity joint ventures, cooperative joint ventures and wholly foreign-owned enterprises nationwide. Following approval, a foreign-invested logistics enterprise may engage in some or all of the businesses specified in
Article 5 of the Pilot Circular and shall no longer be subject to the minimum registered capital of a foreign-invested logistics enterprise. However, it shall comply with the minimum registered capital requirements and other requirements specified in the Measures for the Administration of Foreign Investment in the Commercial Sector, the Measures for the Administration of Foreign-Invested International Freight Forwarding Agencies, the Provisions for the Administration of Foreign Investment in the Road Transport Industry and other laws and regulations on foreign investment that correspond with the business or businesses that it is to engage in. With the exception of enterprises that require the examination and approval of the Ministry of Commerce pursuant to the aforementioned departmental rules or other laws and regulations on foreign investment, other foreign-invested logistics enterprises shall be subject to the examination and approval of the competent provincial level commerce department.

三、   鉴于开展设立外商投资物流企业的试点工作取得良好成果，现允许外国投资者在全国范围内以合资、合作和独资形式设立外商投资物流企业。外商投资物流企业可以经批准从事《通知》第五条的部分或全部经营业务，并不再对外商投资物流企业规定注册资本最低限额，但外商投资物流企业应根据其经营业务相应符合《外商投资商业领域管理办法》、《外商投资国际货物运输代理企业管理办法》、《外商投资道路运输业管理规定》及其他外商投资相关法律法规规定的最低注册资本要求及其他要求。除根据上述部门规章或其他外商投资法律法规须经商务部审批的企业外，其他外商投资物流企业由省级商务主管部门审批。

4. The competent commercial departments of the regions shall duly carry out the work of attracting foreign investment into the logistics sector in accordance with the foregoing provisions, and laws and regulations on foreign investment. When a project is outside the jurisdiction of its examination and approval authority, the commerce department of the region shall forward the application materials to the Ministry of Commerce within the prescribed time limit after preliminary examination thereof.

四、   各地商务主管部门应按照上述各项规定及外商投资相关法律法规，认真做好物流领域吸收外资工作。超过地方审批权限的，应对申请材料初审后在规定时限内上报商务部。

5. Competent commercial departments of the regions that have the examination and approval authority may not abuse their administrative powers, and shall promptly render decisions granting administrative permission in respect of applications for the establishment in their jurisdictions of branches and sub-branches, etc. by logistics enterprises from other regions that comply with the statutory conditions.

五、   各地具有审批权限的商务主管部门不得滥用行政权力，对于来自其他地区物流企业在本地区设立分支机构等申请，符合法定条件的，应及时作出准予行政许可的决定。

6. In the event of a discrepancy between this Circular and the Circular on Issues Relevant to the Launch of Pilot Projects for the Establishment of Foreign-invested Logistics Enterprises (Wai Jing Mao Zi Yi Han Zi [2002] No.615) issued by the former Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, this Circular shall prevail.

六、  原对外贸易经济合作部《关于开展试点设立外商投资物流企业工作有关问题的通知》(外经贸资一函字〔2002〕第615号)与本通知不一致之处以本通知为准。

7. This Circular shall be effective as of March 31 2006.

clp reference:4000/06.04.20prc reference:商资函[2006]38号promulgated:2006-04-20effective:2006-03-31

七、   本通知自2006年3月31日起施行。

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