Songyang county – located in Lishui city, in East China's Zhejiang province – saw its exports surge 70.19 percent year-on-year to 617 million yuan ($85.79 million) in the first half of 2023.

The boom was attributed to stellar performances by its three pillar industries – manufacturing of stainless steel, shoes and printing plates.

One of the leading exporters in Songyang is a new materials company that produces high-quality stainless steel tubes for various applications. The company has expanded its overseas market to 30 countries and regions, with exports now accounting for about 60 percent of total sales.

In the first six months, its export sales topped 90 million yuan, up 53.77 percent year-on-year.

The company's success is not only said to be because of its own competitiveness, but is also due to strong support from the local government, which has rolled out a series of initiatives to smooth the way forwards for enterprises and relieve their difficulties.

In 2023, Songyang has implemented subsidies for businesses that participate in domestic and international exhibitions at all levels – aiming to boost their brand awareness and market expansion.

The county has also joined hands with financial and insurance institutions to launch export credit insurance to help enterprises reduce their export risks.

Moreover, the county has carried out themed training for foreign trade practitioners, so as to improve their professional skills and service quality.