MOFCOM Steps up "Internet Plus Circulation" Initiatives to Drive IoT

The Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) will step up efforts in the "Internet + Circulation", driving the growth of Internet of Things (IoT) and creating a smart logistics system to unblock two bottlenecks, according to Assistant to Commerce Minister Wang Pingnan in a regular policy briefing of the State Council’s Information Office on 8 April.

The pledged measures are in four areas:

First, continuing efforts will be taken to increase investment in broadband construction in rural areas, increasing speed while reducing costs, promoting the coordinated development of e-commerce and express delivery/logistics, solving the problems in regulating business vehicles for express delivery and last-mile logistics.

Second, support the circulation enterprises and build up cold chain transportation of agricultural products with the focus on strengthening the construction of cold storage facilities in key agricultural areas of the country. Demonstration work for cold chain standardisation of agricultural produce will also be carried out by MOFCOM, National Development and Reform Commission, and Standardisation Administration of China this year.

Third, promote the building of smart logistics distribution systems, improve the utilisation of cold chain facilities by means of Internet of Things and other new technologies, carry out scientific development of multi-level logistics public information service platform and integrate the construction of business public service cloud platform to provide public services.

Fourth, carry out pilots for non-vehicle operating common carrier, allowing legal person who does not own any vehicle to engage in the transportation business, integrate scattered logistics resources including warehouse and vehicles through the online platform, reduce the empty-loaded rate, improve logistics informatisation and standardisation, thereby reducing logistics costs and improving logistics efficiency.