In the last 50 years, the Ningxia Department of Commerce, as a significant driver of business development in Ningxia Hui autonomous region, has seen many changes and the progress of society.

Over the years, while the functions of the Ningxia Department of Commerce have continuously adjusted to meet current demands, the business personnel of Ningxia have always kept pace, and contributed their efforts to the development of Ningxia.

Today, let's review the historical evolution of the organization of the Ningxia Department of Commerce since 1949, embarking on a journey through the intertwined changes in development and organizational adjustments over time.

• October 29, 1949: The Ningxia Provincial Department of Industry and Commerce was established.

• July 17, 1951: The Ningxia Provincial Department of Industry and Commerce was divided into the Ningxia Provincial Department of Commerce and the Ningxia Provincial Department of Industry.

• September 1954: The Ningxia provincial-level administration was abolished and merged into Gansu province. The organizational structure and functions of the original Ningxia Provincial Department of Commerce were integrated into the Gansu Provincial Department of Commerce and the Gansu Provincial Foreign Trade Bureau.

• October 25, 1958: The Department of Commerce of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region was established, overseeing commercial, supply and marketing, and foreign trade activities across the region.

• June 10, 1961: The Foreign Trade Bureau of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region was established. In 1961, the State-owned commerce and supply and marketing cooperatives were divided, and the autonomous region supply and marketing cooperative became independent. On February 23, 1963, the Industry and Commerce Administration Department of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region was abolished, and the Industry and Commerce Administration Bureau of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region was established.

• February 24, 1970: The Revolutionary Leadership Group of the Commercial Bureau of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region was established, responsible for commercial, foreign trade, supply and marketing, and industry and commerce administration across the region.

• July 3, 1973: The Industry and Commerce Administration Bureau of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region was established, separating industry and commerce administration work from the Commercial Bureau of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. On December 5, 1975, the Commercial Bureau of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, the Foreign Trade Bureau of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, and the Supply and Marketing Cooperative of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region were divided.

• March 1983: The Commercial Bureau and the Supply and Marketing Cooperative of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region merged to form the Department of Commerce of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

• May 20, 1983: The Foreign Trade Bureau of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region merged with the Import and Export Management Committee of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region to form the Department of Foreign Economic and Trade of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

• August 1984: The Supply and Marketing Cooperative of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region separated from the Department of Commerce of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

• 1995: The Department of Foreign Economic and Trade of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region was renamed the Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

• July 26, 1995: The Commercial Bureau of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region was renamed the Department of Commerce of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

• March 3, 1997: The Materials Bureau of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region was merged into the Department of Commerce of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

• May 2000: The Department of Commerce of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region was dissolved, and the Office of Domestic Trade of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region was established, responsible for the circulation industry across the region.

• July 17, 2003: The Office of Domestic Trade of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region merged with the Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region to form the Department of Commerce of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

• December 5, 2005: The Office of the Port of the People's Government of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region was officially established and located in the Department of Commerce of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. On July 27, 2009, the Office of the Port of the People's Government of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region was transferred to the Department of Transportation of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. On January 22, 2012, the Office of the Port of the People's Government of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region was transferred from the Department of Transportation of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region to the Department of Commerce of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

• December 2013: The Ningxia Investment Promotion Bureau, established in May 2003, was incorporated into the Department of Commerce of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, and the Department of Commerce of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region added the sign of the "Department of Economic and Technical Cooperation of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region."

• 2022: The Ningxia Expo Bureau, established in July 2010, was dissolved, and the Secretariat of the China-Arab States Expo (established in December 2013) was incorporated into the Department of Commerce of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

Currently, there are four signs in front of the office building of the Department of Commerce of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region: the Department of Commerce of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, the Department of Economic and Technical Cooperation of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, the Office of the Port of the People's Government of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, and the Secretariat of the China-Arab States Expo.

The Department of Commerce of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region today is responsible for domestic and foreign trade, promoting international and domestic economic cooperation and investment, promoting consumption across the region, managing trade circulation, port management, and leading the e-commerce and exhibition industries across the region. It is also responsible for the daily work of the Executive Committee of the China-Arab States Expo, actively contributing to the creation of a new chapter in the high-quality development of commerce in Ningxia.