The State Council on Oct 13 released a guideline on promoting the innovation and application of the supply chain.

The document was aimed at establishing a smart supply chain system that basically covers major industries in China by 2020, with the introduction of a batch of new supply chain technologies and models, and the cultivation of about 100 world-advanced enterprises in China’s supply chain sector.

In reaching these targets, the government laid out six major tasks concerning the supply chain in rural areas, integrated, smart and green supply chain, financing services for the supply chain, and its global perspectives.

The guideline urged promoting the integrated development of the primary, secondary and tertiary industries in rural areas.

Family farms, farmers’ cooperatives, and leading enterprises in agricultural industrialization are encouraged to establish an agricultural supply chain mechanism that integrates the production, processing, circulation and services of agricultural products.

The document also called for promoting the establishment of an information platform for the agricultural supply chain, collecting big data in every chain of agricultural production and sharing information services in policy, market, technology and insurance.

The equipment and standard construction of agricultural products and food cold chain should be reinforced, with efforts to reduce the circulation costs and losses. Also, a quality tracking system for key products of supply chains should be established.

The guideline also urged improving the whole supply chain system in research design, product manufacturing and after-sale services, and promoting the coordinated purchasing, manufacturing and logistics among enterprises in the supply chain.

Meanwhile, a number of public service platforms for service-type manufacturing should be established, in an effort to develop producer services based on the supply chain.

Efforts should also be made to promote the development of a manufacturing supply chain in intelligent technology, such as industrial robots, and the application of perceptive technology.

The document also called for improvement in making the supply chain smarter through developing smart shops and smart logistics.

Cooperation between circulation enterprises and production enterprises should be encouraged through building related cooperation platforms, and new-type service enterprises for the supply chain should be cultivated to improve services.

In addition, financing services for the supply chain should be developed with effective and convenient financing channels, and efforts should be made to avoid financing risks in supply chains.

Green supply chain management should also be promoted, especially in automation, electronics, communication, equipment and machinery, strengthening green supervision on supply chains and setting up a unified standard system of green products.

Energy saving technology should be introduced in the logistics industry. Green logistics companies should be supported. A recycling platform should be enacted for waste materials based on the supply chain, as well as online market for waste and renewable resources.

China should be integrated into the global supply chain network by improving infrastructure and cooperation with countries along the Belt and Road Initiative.

Enterprises’ risk management in the supply chain should be improved, according to the document, by setting up a risk alert system and safety plan.

In addition, the document stressed that China should participate in making rules for the global supply chain.

In order to implement the policies effectively, a favorable environment should be created. Supervision, public services and professional training should be improved, said the document.