SHANGHAI'S Pudong New Area yesterday launched several new measures to simplify customs procedures and reduce clearance costs for company headquarters.

The measures include setting up a coordinated customs system for headquarters, providing 24/7 solutions for emergency clearance issues, offering statistical information and further simplifying administrative procedures related to the processing trade business, the customs and commerce authorities of Pudong said at a conference yesterday.

The approval process of duty exemption or reduction for headquarters importing facilities for their research and development centers will be cut to three days.

By the first quarter of this year, Pudong hosts 196 regional headquarters of multinational companies and 126 headquarters or regional headquarters of major domestic firms.