This file photo taken on Aug 18, 2020 shows the Hengqin Port in South China's Guangdong province, across Macao Special Administrative Region. (PHOTO / XINHUA)
The integrative development of Macao Special Administrative Region and Hengqin in Zhuhai, Guangdong province, has made great strides in the two years since the inauguration of administrative organizations of the Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin.
The administrative body was officially unveiled on Sept 17, 2021, after the State Council issued the General Plan for Construction of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin.
A slew of preferential policies for finance, cultural tourism, biomedicine, health care and other industries have attracted Macao-funded enterprises to Hengqin. Over the two years, the number of Macao-funded enterprises in the zone has been ramping up.
Official statistics show the zone is now home to 5,688 Macao-funded enterprises, marking an increase of 22.8 percent since September 2021. Their revenue surged 28.6 percent year-on-year to over 9 billion yuan ($1.234 billion).
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In the technology, R&D, and high-end manufacturing sector, one of Hengqin’s four key industries, about 800 Macao-funded technology enterprises have registered so far. Meanwhile, there are also more than 60 Macao-branded Traditional Chinese Medicine firms as of June this year.
The project, which extends over 190,000 square meters, provides a friendly living environment for over 10,000 Macao residents and enjoys good connections with the University of Macau and Hengqin Port via the Macao-Hengqin Light Rail Transit, as well as the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge
Han Yonghui, vice-dean of the Guangdong Institute for International Strategies, a Guangzhou-based research consultancy institute, said he believes these industries are essential for Macao’s economy.
To realize diversified and sustainable economic growth, Macao must consolidate and optimize tertiary industries such as the tourism and leisure sectors, and actively foster emerging industries such as innovative high-tech industries.
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These directions align with the key industries listed in the Hengqin plan, which aims to “initially show supporting effect on Macao's appropriately diversified economic development” by 2024.
Moreover, the innovation and entrepreneurial base for Macao youth in the zone has helped incubate about 700 projects. About 200 internships and 1,000 employment opportunities have been released through tailor-made programs for Macao residents.
An aerial photo taken on March 9, 2022 shows the Hengqin Checkpoint connecting the Macao Special Administrative Region with Zhuhai in south China's Guangdong province. (PHOTO / XINHUA)
With the rise of business exchanges, the administrative organizations of Hengqin have promoted projects to facilitate their living and working in the zone. As a result, the number of Macao residents living and working in the zone rose by about 29 percent year-on-year by the end of August. The number of travelers passing through Hengqin checkpoint exceeded 10 million so far this year, up 126 percent over 2022.
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In particular, the Macao New Neighborhood project in Hengqin has bridged the cross-border gap in public service and social security, thanks to the zone’s geographic and policy advantages, said Zhou Linsheng, head of the Guangdong Society of Economic Reform.
The project, which extends over 190,000 square meters, provides a friendly living environment for over 10,000 Macao residents and enjoys good connections with the University of Macau and Hengqin Port via the Macao-Hengqin Light Rail Transit, as well as the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge.
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Last week, the new Government Affairs Service Center was officially opened in the zone, featuring a Macao government services self-service corner. Macao Identification Services Bureau and Macao Financial Services Bureau have set up self-service machines for handling Macao government affairs in the corner, such as travel document renewal and personal information certificates.
