Ministry of Commerce Delegates Authority for Approving Foreign-Invested Commercial Enterprise to Provincial Counterparts

On September 12, 2008 the Ministry of Commerce ("MOC") issued a circular (the "Circular") delegating more authority to the MOC's provincial counterparts in approving foreign-invested commercial enterprises ("FICEs"), substituting the Circular of MOC regarding delegating the power of approving FICEs to provincial counterparts. MOC limited its approval rights to FICEs that conduct non-store sales of products by means of television, telephone, mail order, Internet and/or vending machines, the wholesale of audio-video products, as well as the distribution (wholesale and retail) of books, newspapers, and periodicals. The Circular further states that all other FICEs shall be approved by MOC's provincial counterparts, including changes with respect to FICEs that are already established.


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