Beijing pushes new regulatory measures to boost e-commerce activities in nation’s capital as online retailers struggle with weak demand
- The municipal government of Beijing’s draft of new regulatory measures sharpens the city’s focus on ‘optimising services’ for online merchants
- The initiative is expected to make it easier for online merchants to set up bricks-and-mortar stores in the Chinese capital to help increase sales
Authorities in the sprawling metropolis, which comprises 16 districts, plan to focus on “optimising services” for online merchants, which is in line with efforts to boost “flexible employment” as well as support the “healthy and regulated development of the platform economy”, according to a document released this month by local industry watchdog the Beijing Market Supervision Administration.
Under that initiative, online merchants would be allowed to set up bricks-and-mortar locations to help them increase sales. This would be accomplished either through a simple change of address on their business licence or by operating multiple shops with the same licence.
Fast-growing online stores owned and operated by individuals would also be allowed to change their business classification via a simplified registration process, according to the plan.
Beijing would also do away with offline supervision and inspection to “minimise the interference with normal business activities” of online retailers, according to the plan. City authorities are soliciting public feedback until February 12.
The plan marks a welcome change of regulatory direction in the nation’s capital, which has become infamous for its harsh approach to dealing with small businesses.