Wenqiao county in Wenling city, Zhejiang province, a long-standing manufacturing hub for measuring and cutting tools, has chosen Indonesia as its next destination to further explore the international market.

The Indonesia-Zhejiang brand center is the first trade investment service platform of its kind co-founded by the Zhejiang provincial government and the provincial Department of Commerce. Since it was set up in 2010, it has given considerable help to Zhejiang companies in Indonesia.

Zhang Jianyu, deputy director of the industry office at Wenqiao county, said in an interview with the news website Zhejiang Online, "There are 15 measuring and cutting tools companies setting foot in the Indonesia-Zhejiang brand center at present. The next step will be setting up a Wenqiao franchise store for measuring and cutting tools in Indonesia, exploring the local market as a group."

One of the advantages that Zhejiang companies can enjoy in Indonesia is zero tariffs.

Zhang said, "Since the opening up of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area in 2010, Chinese companies have been enjoying zero tariffs in ASEAN. As one of the most important member states of ASEAN, Indonesia has become the first choice for most Chinese countries to enter the market."

Chen Chongdi, chairman of Zhejiang Mekol Tools Co Ltd, said cheaper prices are another advantage that Zhejiang companies enjoy in Indonesia. As a result, the measuring and cutting tools industry expands at an average annual rate of 30 percent in Indonesia.