On November 8, Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao jointly made their debuts at the ongoing fourth China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, aiming to demonstrate the world business opportunities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), especially in the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone and the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin.

During the GBA Global Conference 2021, organized by Department of Commerce of Guangdong Province, Invest Hong Kong and Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, representatives from the three places have briefly promoted GBA’s business opportunities, among which that in the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone and the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin have been highlighted. The conference has attracted more than 300 representatives from enterprises, related institutions and media outlets at home and abroad.  

In September, China's central authorities issued a general plan for building a Guangdong-Macao in-depth cooperation zone and a new plan for further developing a Shenzhen-Hong Kong cooperation zone.

According to Ye Hua,  Deputy Director-General of the Department of Commerce of Guangdong Province, GBA is a huge regional economic hinterland with a GDP of 11.5 trillion yuan (about 1.67 trillion U.S. dollars) in 2020.

Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao have formed an industrial pattern of complementary and synergistic development for advanced manufacturing and modern service industries. Ye added that the area is also an important global manufacturing base, international financial, shipping and trade which incorporates tourism and leisure centers. It is home to more than 300 industrial clusters with various characteristics, among which there are 7 trillion-scale industry clusters in the field of electronic information, green petrochemicals, smart home appliances and advanced materials.

Liu Yajun, Deputy Director-General of the Economic Affairs Department and Head of the Commercial Office of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR, indicated that Hong Kong serves as a major engine for GBA’s development and has always played an irreplaceable role in China’s opening up.  In the future, Hong Kong will continue to complement and cooperate with Guangdong and Macao and realize integrated development with other cities in the GBA.

Xu Hongri, Director of the Promoting Group, the Commercial office of the Economic Affairs Department of the Liaison office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR, said that Macao has attained prominent achievements under “one country, two systems”. He believes that the development of Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin will open a new chapter for Macao practicing “one country, two systems”.