Ningbo included in national program to develop modern commercial distribution system

Ningbo has been chosen as one of the 20 cities nationwide in 2024 to pilot the development of a modern commercial distribution system, as announced recently on the Ministry of Commerce's website.

This initiative, launched jointly by the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Commerce, will unfold in three phases spanning from 2024 to 2026. Ningbo, along with 19 other cities such as Tianjin, Dalian, Harbin, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Hefei, Fuzhou, and Xiamen, has been identified as part of the inaugural group of pilot cities for this program.

According to the official statement, the central government will provide fixed subsidies to these pilot cities for establishing modern commercial distribution systems. Approximately 400 million yuan ($55.2 million) is designated for municipalities directly under the central government, around 300 million yuan for provincial capitals and centrally administered municipalities, and roughly 200 million yuan for other prefecture-level cities. The construction phase is scheduled to span three years.

The primary aim of this pilot project is to create a network of modern commercial distribution hub cities that promote coordinated urban and rural development, possess strong driving forces, and exhibit resilient supply capabilities. These cities will be intricately connected to national regional strategic initiatives, major logistics corridors, and modern industrial clusters.