Zhuhai gov't intensifies benefits of cross-sea bridge

The city government is planning a 26-sq-km Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Economic Zone centering on Hengqin New Area and accommodating an 800,000-sq-m ZHM Cooperative Logistics Park.

The announcement was made by Yang Chuan, director of the Hengqin New Area Administrative Committee, at an Aug 25 promotion conference in Hong Kong.

Because of the mega-bridge, more passengers, materials, capital, and information will flow between the cities, generating a strong agglomeration effect, Yang said.

The HZMB Economic Zone will develop international trade, warehousing logistics, cross-border e-commerce, displays and transactions, procurement settlements, information services, conferences and exhibitions, commerce and tourism, and other key business forms.

According to Zhuhai vice-mayor Lu Xiaofeng, Hong Kong is Zhuhai's largest source of foreign capital and investment, with $26 billion supporting 1,535 Hong Kong enterprises in Zhuhai as of the end of last year.

Signing ceremony for projects at the promotion conference [Photo courtesy hk.crntt.com]

At the event, deals were clinched between Hengqin and Hong Kong Telecommunications (HKT) Ltd, Prostar Capital Ltd, Industrial & Commercial Bank of China (Asia), and other Hong Kong enterprises.

Moreover, Hengqin will construct a Harrow School to advance education. The famous institute, founded in 1572, is one of Britain's leading independent schools with alumni including poet George Gordon Byron (Lord Byron) and famous UK Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

The endeavor will combine efforts with Hong Kong's Lai Sun Group under a cooperative agreement. It will provide one-stop education services from kindergarten to high school, recruiting students from the Greater Bay Area.

The opportunity to introduce Zhuhai's investment environment also attracted participation in the upcoming Hengqin China-Latin America International Fair.

The expo at the Zhuhai International Convention & Exhibition Center from Nov 9 to 11 is the first of its kind to focus on bilateral economic and trade cooperation.

As host, the city of Zhuhai is already forging cooperative relations with Latin American regions, a favorable business environment, and facilities attractive to transnational economy and trade, according to a government official.

The HZM Bridge makes Zhuhai the only inland city directly adjacent to both Hong Kong and Macao by roadway. The bridge is scheduled to open by the year's end.

Zhuhai investment environment and China-Latin America International Expo promoted in Hong Kong [Photo courtesy takungpao.com]