The launch ceremony for the Jimo International Inland Port Multimodal Transport Customs Supervision Center was held in the  coastal city of Qingdao in East China's Shandong province on Jan 21.

The event marked the official start of logistics operations featuring land-sea linkages and sea-rail transport. As such, the logistics channel connecting Jimo Inland Port and Huangdao Port in Qingdao has been comprehensively created.

Jimo International Inland Port Multimodal Transport Customs Supervision Center was launched with the strong support of the Jimo district committee and the district government.

It is considered an important move made by Shandong Port Logistics Group – a unit of major Chinese port operator Shandong Port Group, or SPG -- in smoothing out logistics channels by joining hands with customs, railways, shipping lines and local companies.

This will effectively solve the "last mile" transport problem that currently hampers the Jimo Inland Port. Furthermore, the customs supervision center will serve Jimo's industrial ecosystem and bring tangible benefits for import and export enterprises relying on inland ports to expand their markets.

To date, the Jimo-Qingdao freight train has made 2,160 trips since the service opened in 2017, setting the stage for a 40 percent-plus improvement in the efficiency of customs clearances and a reduction of over 20 percent in overall logistics costs.

Based on the freight train service and relying on streamlined logistics supervision, cargo information concerning customs releases and the operational status at the terminal have achieved close connectivity. Customs clearance efficiency has been markedly improved, leading to a 200 yuan ($30.90) reduction in logistics costs for every container. 

Going forwards, Shandong Port Logistics Group will rely on the new multimodal transport customs supervision center to leverage its own logistics operations.

Through partnering with the Jimo district government, it aims to build a new highland for port-industry-city integrated development, implement a new development philosophy, integrate into the new development pattern and help Jimo to achieve high-quality logistics and economic development.