GBA Briefs

Guangzhou: Provincial five-year plan of manufacturing unveiled

Guangdong province on Aug 9 unveiled an action plan to become a first-class manufacturing powerhouse by 2025 in the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) for Developing High-quality Manufacturing in Guangdong Province.

The province aims to make the added value of manufacturing comprise over 30 percent of its GDP by 2025. It also envisions achieving major breakthroughs in core manufacturing technologies by 2035 and being in a leading position in the global manufacturing industry.

The plan prioritizes 20 pillars of development, such as electronic information, green petrochemicals, high-end equipment, and intelligent robots.

Foshan: Manufacturing plan to give the city full play

Under Guangdong province's latest manufacturing plan, Foshan is expected to become a key focus in the development of five strategic emerging pillar industries — intelligent home appliances, automobiles, advanced materials, modern textiles, and modern agriculture and food.

Foshan, a manufacturing powerhouse on the west coast of the Pearl River, will also be the center of the development of five strategic emerging industries — intelligent robotics, new-frontier materials, new energy, emergency and environmental protection, as well as precision instruments and equipment.

Zhuhai: Measures to support HK entrepreneurs published

According to Zhuhai's latest employment promotion policies published on Aug 9, Hong Kong and Macao entrepreneurs who start businesses in the city will be given priority when they apply for local public incubation bases.

Those entrepreneurs will also be exempted from paying office rents and property management fees for up to three years. Meanwhile, they can enjoy funding support and subsidies for social security, employment and rent. Eligible entrepreneurs are allowed to apply for loans of up to 5 million yuan (US$772,000) with discounted interest.

Inno-tech director reveals initiatives with Macao

Zhuhai will further its cooperation with Macao in science and innovation through new projects, said Wang Lei, director of the Zhuhai municipal science and technology innovation bureau, in a press conference on Aug 13.

Wang said the initiatives include promoting the establishment of a Guangdong-Macao collaboration zone in Zhuhai's Hengqin New Area, helping the zone play a prominent role in the Greater Bay Area's inno-tech development, and building joint laboratories with Macao and Hong Kong.

Seventeen inno-tech collaboration projects between Zhuhai, Macao and Hong Kong have been approved this year, and the funding of these projects has been 8.23 million yuan (US$1.27 million), Wang said.

Huizhou: Fresh-food distribution area for HK to begin trial operation

A fresh-food distribution area for Hong Kong covering about 30,000 square meters in Huizhou will begin a trial operation this month. It is part of the 5 billion yuan (US$772 million) Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Green Agricultural Products Production and Supply Base project.

The base aims to become the largest industrial base for modern agriculture and food in the Greater Bay Area, with an annual output of over 30 billion yuan. More than 1 million farmers are expected to benefit from the project.

Jiangmen: Entrepreneurial base comes into service in Jianghai district

An entrepreneurial base for professionals setting up businesses in Jiangmen came into service on Aug 13, with the capacity to accommodate 100 entrepreneurial teams. Located in the Jiangmen High-Tech Zone, Jianghai district, and covering an area of 11,800 square meters, the newly launched base is one of the city's first entrepreneurial platforms for Hong Kong and Macao entrepreneurs. The base is expected to play an important role in helping develop businesses on the mainland, and in promoting cross-border talent exchanges.

Zhongshan: Service center for people from HK, Macao, Taiwan opens

As more people from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and abroad work and live in Zhongshan, the city on Aug 12 launched its first management and service center for the group, providing a range of one-stop services such as accommodation registration, visa-related counseling, foreign matter-related counseling, policy publicity, and cultural exchanges.

The service center is expected to facilitate those people's working and living in Zhongshan.

Dongguan: Training camp held for HK, Macao, Taiwan entrepreneurs

A two-day training camp for entrepreneurs from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan was held in the Dongguan Taiwan Youth Innovation Center on Aug 14-15.

Over 50 entrepreneurs and startup senior officials joined the camp, which aims to strengthen communication among young entrepreneurs in Dongguan and help them unleash their potential. Lessons on various issues, including enterprise management and establishing internal trust mechanism, were provided to the participants.

Zhaoqing: Governments to appoint 'chief data officers'

Zhaoqing will set up a team of "chief data officers" in nine municipal-level governmental units and five county-level governments, including the development and reform bureau and office in charging of government service data, in a bid to foster digital government transformation and to boost the digital economy.

The officers, responsible for planning, collecting, sharing, developing, merging and applying data, are also established in nine other cities within Guangdong province, including Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Zhongshan, Foshan and Jiangmen.

Shenzhen: Financial authorities crack property-speculation group

Shenzhen financial authorities said a Shenzhen-based real estate speculation club called "Shenfangli" misused loans totaling 1.06 billion yuan (US$164 million). The group is accused of loan fraud; illegal fundraising; misuse of business loans to buy homes; and posting fake property investment cases, government policies and advertisements.

Two suspects were arrested and three detained on suspicion of false advertising and providing fake information to obtain bank loans. More than 100 members in the speculation group are forbidden from trading houses for three years, and 44 licensed real estate agents were added to the industry blacklist.