To vigorously promote the high-quality development of Yulin City’s fragrance industry and accelerate the creation of a 100-billion-yuan fragrance industry cluster, the following policy measures are proposed.
I. Support for the Construction of High-Standard Spice Planting Bases
(1) Support the development of Yulin City’s spice seed industry. Support Yulin City in conducting research on the collection, utilization, and breeding of woody spice germplasm resources, and accelerate the construction of gene banks, scion nurseries, and seedling bases for spice germplasm resources such as star anise, agarwood, and cinnamon, as well as the work of variety approval and certification.
(2) Support the construction of high-standard demonstration bases in Yulin City.Support Yulin City in establishing woody aromatic raw material cultivation bases; prioritize the inclusion of newly planted star anise, agarwood, and cinnamon forests in the scope of central government afforestation subsidies; prioritize the inclusion of newly planted agarwood forests in the scope of national projects for the cultivation of special and rare tree species, and provide subsidies in accordance with relevant central government project subsidy standards. Allocate central and autonomous region fiscal forestry special funds with a focus on supporting the renovation of low-efficiency star anise forests, and provide subsidies in accordance with relevant central government project subsidy standards.Strengthen technical guidance for Yulin City in areas such as the renovation of low-yield star anise forests, horticultural management techniques, intercropping of traditional Chinese medicinal herbs under forest canopies, as well as dense planting of cinnamon and agarwood cultivation techniques. Coordinate support from central government forestry technology promotion demonstration projects, autonomous region under-canopy economy demonstration projects, and rural revitalization industrial development special funds to assist Yulin City in building high-standard demonstration bases.Support Yulin City in effectively planning “aromatics-plus” national reserve forest projects for star anise, agarwood, cinnamon, and other species to boost the quality and efficiency of aromatic plant cultivation bases.
(3) Vigorously cultivate high-quality spice raw material forests. Designate the spice and flavoring industry as a key sector in the construction of Guangxi’s Modern Forestry Industry Demonstration Zone, incorporate it into the key components of the Three-Year Action Plan for High-Quality Development of the Trillion-Yuan Green Industry, and accelerate the cultivation of high-quality spice raw material forests.
(4) Build distinctive spice industry clusters, industrial power towns, and modern agricultural industrial parks. Support Yulin City in establishing a national-level star anise spice industry cluster. Leveraging distinctive spice industries such as star anise, agarwood, and cinnamon, establish agricultural industrial power towns, modern agricultural industrial parks, and autonomous region-level modern characteristic agricultural demonstration zones, with a focus on supporting the construction of standardized spice cultivation bases.
II. Supporting the High-Quality Development of Spice Processing in Yulin City
(5) Accelerate the construction of the Yulin City Spice Processing Industrial Park. Starting in 2024, the autonomous region’s fiscal funds will support the construction of standard factory buildings and “seven utilities and one leveling” infrastructure in eligible parks within Yulin City. In accordance with the State Council’s new regulations on strengthening the management of government-invested projects by category, we will guide Yulin City in properly preparing special bond applications for standard factory building projects in the park, striving to secure special bond funding for more eligible projects.In accordance with the principle of “centralized planning and tiered support,” we will coordinate annual quotas for new construction land to effectively meet the land requirements of the Yulin Spice Processing Industrial Park. We will implement preferential policies for attracting investment in deep-processing spice enterprises (those holding food production licenses) in accordance with laws and regulations.
(6) Strengthen investment promotion for the spice industry chain. Integrate Yulin’s spice industry into the autonomous region’s key industries for investment promotion. Develop and package a high-quality portfolio of industrial projects in the field of deep processing of spices. Disseminate investment promotion information for the spice industry both domestically and internationally. Establish a dedicated investment promotion platform for Yulin’s spice industry. Vigorously carry out targeted investment promotion to attract a group of influential, high-quality enterprises. Extend the industry chain into areas such as food and medicinal cuisine,daily consumer goods, and other sectors, forming a complete spice industry chain. This will attract upstream and downstream related industries to settle in Yulin City, continuously enhancing the influence of Yulin’s spice industry and the effectiveness of investment promotion.
III. Support Yulin City in Establishing a Spice R&D and Technical Service Platform
(7) Establish the International Research Institute for the Development of the Aromatics and Nutrition Health Industry. Encourage Yulin City to apply, in accordance with established procedures, for the establishment of the Guangxi International Research Institute for the Development of the Aromatics and Nutrition Health Industry (hereinafter referred to as the Aromatics Industry Research Institute) by leveraging new R&D institutions. This institute will serve as a platform for applied technology R&D, technology transfer, innovation enterprise incubation, and the cultivation of industrial innovation talent in the aromatics and nutrition health sectors.Support the establishment of a sub-center for the Food Safety and Nutrition Innovation Platform under the Fragrance Industry Research Institute, focusing on R&D in the areas of medicinal and edible fragrances and nutrition and health. Support relevant units in Yulin City to strengthen scientific and technological innovation and apply for relevant science and technology projects under the Autonomous Region’s Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone for ASEAN. Support relevant universities, research institutes, and enterprises in Yulin City to establish Autonomous Region Key Laboratories in the fragrance sector, and vigorously support the approval of fragrance (traditional Chinese medicine) research projects.Encourage leading enterprises in Yulin’s flavor industry to form innovation consortia in collaboration with universities, research institutes, and relevant enterprises; provide selective support to successful science and technology projects established through such consortia. Support relevant research institutes and enterprises in Yulin to strengthen cooperation with academicians and experts, and strive to establish academician workstations and expert service stations. Develop practical talent mechanisms, clarify talent recruitment criteria and target groups, and define incentive policies for attracting high-end talent and cultivating local talent.
(8) Strengthen the Commercialization of Scientific Achievements. Support Yulin City in accelerating the commercialization of scientific achievements through the Spice Processing Industrial Park. Enterprises that invest in acquiring, commissioning, or jointly developing scientific achievements for commercial application to generate economic benefits will be eligible for merit-based post-grant subsidies.Support Yulin City in establishing an autonomous region-level pilot research base for the commercialization of spice-related scientific and technological achievements. For projects that apply in accordance with regulations for pilot research and industrialization demonstrations of major scientific and technological achievements and pass the project approval review, provide upfront funding or support through a combination of loans and subsidies. Provide elemental guarantees and policy support for land use, energy consumption, and other factors related to scientific and technological achievement commercialization projects.
IV. Building Yulin City’s Specialty Spice Land Port
(9) Expand the scale of spice imports and exports. Support Yulin City in applying for projects funded by the Central Special Fund for Foreign Trade and Economic Development. Support spice enterprises in obtaining export product certifications, quality management system certifications, and developing international online marketing strategies to enhance their competitiveness. Support spice enterprises in participating in national-level key exhibitions such as the China International Import Expo and the China Import and Export Fair, as well as relevant overseas economic and trade activities and exhibitions.
(10) Deepen customs clearance facilitation reforms for “medicinal and edible dual-use” products. Optimize customs clearance supervision models and operational procedures for imported spices (medicinal and edible dual-use products), promote the construction of customs supervision facilities, support the exploration and implementation of a centralized inspection model in Yulin City, and provide support for the procurement of inspection equipment at customs supervision facilities.Deepen the functional application of the Guangxi International Trade “Single Window” to achieve “direct pickup at the ship’s side” for imported goods and “direct loading upon arrival at the port” for exported goods, thereby continuously improving the level of cross-border trade facilitation. Promote the expansion of the scope of market access for “food and medicine of the same origin” commodities imported for food use. Advocate for the inclusion of agarwood in the “Catalog of Substances That Are Both Food and Traditional Chinese Medicinal Materials According to Tradition.” Establish a new regulatory model for food and medicinal “food and medicine of the same origin” commodities.
(11) Establish a National Key Laboratory for Import and Export Inspection and Quarantine. Support the establishment of the Yulin Customs National Key Laboratory for Import and Export Inspection and Quarantine of Spices (Traditional Chinese Medicinal Materials).
(12) Promote the transformation and upgrading of processing trade. Accelerate the development of Yulin City as a key destination for the national transfer of processing trade. Support Yulin City in leveraging its spice distribution market to guide enterprises in actively developing deep processing of imported spices, increasing the added value of imported spice products, and extending industrial and supply chains.
(13) Improve platforms for openness and cooperation. Support the development of platforms such as the Yulin International Land Port and the Bonded Logistics Center (Type B). Seek approval for Yulin City to establish a comprehensive cross-border e-commerce pilot zone and enhance the level of trade facilitation for market procurement.
V. Enhancing the Functions of the Spice Trading and Distribution Center
(14) Establish a Spice Trading and Distribution Hub and Pricing Center. Cultivate and expand Yulin’s specialized spice trading markets, providing financial support for projects related to market warehousing, logistics, and cold-chain logistics infrastructure. Support the upgrading of Yulin’s spice product markets and the construction of digital facilities.Support the distribution of spices from India, ASEAN, Africa, and other regions through Yulin City for shipment across China and export to countries such as Japan, South Korea, and the United States, establishing Yulin City as a global spice trading and distribution hub and pricing center. Support the construction of a supporting testing center for the agarwood trading market in Yulin City, and compile and publish spice price indices based on the specialized spice trading market. Support Yulin City in applying for and registering a collective trademark and regional public brand for spices, and strengthen spice brand development.
(15) Guide the standardized development of Yulin’s specialized spice trading markets. Support market operators in Yulin in lawfully and compliantly introducing strategic investors and improving internal governance, while expanding trading scale by leveraging spice and traditional Chinese medicinal material resources from our region and Southeast Asia.
(16) Support the organization of production-marketing matching events. Organize initiatives such as the “National Buyers’ Tour of Guangxi” and the “National Roadshow of Guangxi Specialty Products.” Through approaches like “going out” and “bringing in,” strengthen the production-marketing linkage for Yulin’s spices, and assist in market expansion and brand promotion for processed spice products. Subject to compliance with relevant national and autonomous region regulations, support Yulin City in hosting the International Spice Industry Expo, providing necessary assistance in areas such as investor and exhibitor recruitment, publicity and promotion, and event organization.
VI. Promoting the Development of Industry Standards for Spices (and Traditional Chinese Medicinal Materials)
(17) Support the establishment of an industry standards system for spices (Chinese medicinal materials). Support Yulin City in accelerating the establishment of an industry standards system for spices (Chinese medicinal materials), and implement performance evaluation and management for related work. Based on the results of performance evaluations, allocate special funding from existing resources to provide support.
VII. Vigorously Developing Aromatherapy and Health-Oriented Cultural Tourism
(18) Enhance the Development Level of Yulin’s Distinctive Cultural Tourism Industry.Allocate special funds from the autonomous region’s tourism development budget to vigorously support the development of Yulin’s aromatic health cultural tourism. Support Yulin City in establishing a national-level agarwood museum, planning aromatic health cultural tourism routes, and actively promoting Yulin’s distinctive cultural tourism products. Support Yulin City in leveraging its advantages in traditional Chinese medicinal materials, the aromatic materials industry, and renowned brands such as Yulin Traditional Chinese Medicine and Yulin Orthopedics to build “aromatic materials + food and medicine + convalescence” wellness centers at Wucai Tianyuan, Daron Mountain, and Duqiao Mountain.
VIII. Strengthen Fiscal, Tax, and Financial Support
(19) Cultivate and expand Yulin’s spice industry. Increase funding and other support for the construction of Yulin’s Spice Processing Industrial Park, and prioritize autonomous region industrial working capital loans and project loans toward enterprises (projects) engaged in the deep processing of spices. For new deep-processing spice industry projects with an investment of 50 million yuan or more, provide subsidies of up to 10% of the fixed-asset investment, with a maximum subsidy of 10 million yuan per project.
(20) Establish the Yulin City Spice Industry Fund. Establish the Yulin City Spice Industry Fund through market-oriented mechanisms. Support qualified investors in initiating and establishing Yulin City Spice Industry Science and Technology Innovation Investment Funds and Industrial Investment Funds through market-oriented approaches, with a focus on equity investments in high-quality enterprises along the Yulin City spice industry chain. Support the transformation and application of scientific and technological achievements as well as the introduction of high-quality enterprises from outside the region. Investment funds at the autonomous region and Yulin City levels may participate appropriately provided they meet the relevant criteria.
(21) Support Direct Financing for Enterprises. Support enterprises in Yulin’s fragrance industry in conducting equity and debt financing activities in compliance with regulations to broaden direct financing channels. Provide subsidies and incentives to eligible enterprises in accordance with relevant policies.
IX. Implementation of Support Measures
(22) Optimize Resource Allocation. Support the inclusion of eligible projects in the fragrance industry chain into the autonomous region’s major projects for coordinated advancement. Further optimize the business environment, guide fragrance processing enterprises to cluster in industrial parks, and promote reductions in enterprises’ water, electricity, gas, and logistics costs.Under the guidance and constraints of territorial spatial planning, prioritize the revitalization and utilization of existing construction land. Through various land supply methods—such as flexible industrial land concessions, “standard land” concessions, and “design-included” concessions—promote increased density and efficiency of industrial land use. Explore the establishment of new, diversified industrial land models to ensure Yulin City’s new construction land quotas for the fragrance industry.
(23) Strengthen Talent Services. Support the recruitment of renowned domestic and international experts and scholars to establish a Spice Expert Committee, which will provide multi-level professional technical training and consultation to support the development of Yulin’s spice industry and enhance the level of production, education, and research in the sector. Implement a talent recruitment and training plan for the spice industry, and establish sound mechanisms for the recruitment, training, selection, mobility, and professional title promotion of specialized talent. Deepen cooperation with higher education institutions to carry out targeted training, regular professional development, and industry standardization initiatives.
(24) Strengthen Policy Implementation. The Department of Commerce of the Autonomous Region shall play a leading and coordinating role, while relevant units of the Autonomous Region shall actively provide support in accordance with their respective responsibilities. They shall regularly study and coordinate the resolution of major issues in the development of the fragrance industry to promote the implementation of these policy measures. Yulin City shall establish and improve working mechanisms, form a robust leadership and execution system, further clarify objectives and tasks, and refine construction projects and work measures to ensure the effectiveness of all supportive policy measures.
These policy measures shall be interpreted by the Department of Commerce of the Autonomous Region in conjunction with relevant responsible units. They shall take effect from the date of issuance; where national regulations provide otherwise, such regulations shall prevail.
