On September 6th, Southeast Asian Media Greater Bay Area Tour draw a full stop in Zhuhai.

In Zhuhai, The media visited The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB), the planning hall in Hengqing New Area, Traditional Chinese Medicine Science and Technology Industrial Park of Co-operation between Guangdong and Macao (GMTCM Park) and the incubation base for the Transformation of Technological Achievements from Hong Kong and Macao.

Mega transit project

Spanning the Lingdingyang waters, The HZMB is the first mega sea-crossing bridge built as a three-way channel for Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao.

After the project opened to traffic, Zhuhai became the only city in GBA linked to both Hong Kong and Macao by land. Thus far, the HZMB has seen over 10 million passengers, with a single-day record high of 130,000 passengers and 50,000 passengers per day on average.

A HZMB tourism development project is now in progress to build a sightseeing route with the eastern artificial island as its center. Sun Jifei, vice editor chief of Indonesia Shang Bao, said more people would be attracted if HZMB is included in the tourism resources of three places.

TCM industry cooperation

The primary focus of Hengqin New Area is deepening Zhuhai-Macao cooperation. By the end of June, 2019, 1,636 Macao-funded enterprises have registered in Hengqin, with a total capital of 13.49 billion US dollars and an investment of 14.18 billion US dollars.

A global network is taking shape to strengthen cooperation with ASEAN, Africa, Latin America, the European Union and North America in the TCM industry. The GMTCM Park is developed and operated by a joint venture established by Macao and Hengqin governments. There are 35 Macao enterprises in the Park, accounting for around 26% of the total 135.

Han Yonghong, vice editor chief of Lianhe Zaobao, was concerned about the preferential policies for Hong Kong and Macao enterprises. According to an insider source, the park has housing bebefits. Hengqin New Area also provides many subsidies for enterprises to develop business.

New cooperation model

The Zhuhai-based Tech Bay is focusing on the transformation of technological achievements from Hong Kong and Macao.

It specialises in promoting exchange and cooperation in areas of Fin-tech, R&D and transformation, intellectual property protection and application, talent introduction and training.

Hong Kong and Macao startup projects with government approval enjoy a series of preferential policies, such as one-yuan office rent, startup funds, talent introduction rewards and housing benefits.

Authors: Monica Liu, Hannah Zhou

Editors: Wing Zhang, Simon Haywood