As many as 623 Guizhou-based companies applied for import and export permission in 2014, a 75 percent increase on 2013 and a historical high. A total of 584 of them were private companies, or roughly 93.7 percent, Guiyang Daily reported.

Among them, 357 companies, or 57.3 percent, are located in Guiyang, capital city of Guizhou province.

The total import and export value of the Guizhou-based private companies was 45.6 billion yuan ($7.6 billion) in 2014, a 44.2 percent increase compared to 2013 and 68.6 percent of the total import and export value of Guizhou.

According to the Guiyang customs, Guiyang has carried out many training courses related to bonded storage and customs clearance. It will also provide free guidebooks and consultancy services to local companies.