[2015/07/22] Opening ceremony of the ‘Seminar for Macao Enterprises – Investment Policy of Hengqin Area of Zhuhai, China (Guangdong) Pilot Free Trade Zone’
The Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), the Administrative Committee of the Hengqin New Area of Zhuhai and the Macao Chamber of Commerce on 22 July co-hosted the “Seminar for Macao Enterprises – Investment Policy of Hengqin Area of Zhuhai, China (Guangdong) Pilot Free Trade Zone”. The seminar introduced participants to the investment policies and other relevant procedures in the Hengqin Area, including: the approval procedures for Macao investors; the existing real estate policies; the start-up hub INNO Valley HQ; the reform for commercial registration in Hengqin; and related policies. More than 300 Macao enterprises took part in the seminar, held in Macao. Special guests attending the event included: the President of IPIM, Mr. Jackson Chang; the Director of the Administrative Committee of the Hengqin New Area, Mr. Niu Jing; and leaders of the Macao Chamber of Commerce.
During the seminar, representatives from the Commerce Bureau of the Administrative Committee of Hengqin New Area, the Hengqin New Area Administration of Industry and Commerce and the Hengqin Financial Investment Co, Ltd. made detailed presentations of the policies applicable to Hengqin New Area. The explanations covered: the simplified and innovative policies for commercial registration in Hengqin and the registration procedures for different types of Macao enterprises in Hengqin; the application procedures of INNO Valley HQ and its financial support policies; and other relevant policies.
In his speech, the President of IPIM, Mr. Jackson Chang, highlighted that, accompanied with the opening of the Guangdong Pilot Free Trade Zone, the Hengqin New Area had implemented a series of innovative policies and adopted a full range of support measures for the investments of Macao enterprises. He noted the establishment of an examination and approval ‘green channel’ for Macao investment enterprises to set up investment projects there and also the establishment of the start-up hub INNO Valley HQ. The aim of such initiatives is to simplify the administrative procedures for companies and to improve support for Macao’s young entrepreneurs and young people starting businesses, he stated. Mr. Jackson Chang said these measures and policies would help to boost the participation of the entire Macao community in the development of the Hengqin Area. He added Hengqin would provide a broader stage for the development of Macao capital funds, technology and talent. In addition, the Hengqin Area provides good conditions for Macao to integrate with regional economic co-operation and to promote moderate economic diversification, as well as developing the city into a world centre of tourism and leisure and as a services platform for economic and trade cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, Mr. Chang added. He added that Macao has actively supported and participated in the development of Hengqin in recent years. To promote further the participation of Macao small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the development of Hengqin Area, IPIM will assist in business promotion for projects that have been recommended for – and purchased land plots in – the Guangdong-Macao Co-operation Industrial Park. The aim of such a policy is to enhance the potential of larger companies to help smaller ones and thus assist SMEs and youth entrepreneurs in Macao to participate actively in Hengqin investment projects.
The Director of the Administrative Committee of the Hengqin New Area, Mr. Niu Jing, stated at the seminar that, in line with national policies, the Hengqin Area would be developed as a pilot zone for culture and education, international business services, and tourism and leisure, becoming a positive factor for encouraging the development and diversification of the economy of Macao. He added that, since the pilot free trade zone was established, Hengqin introduced more than 100 innovative policies, mainly focused on the opening of its service sector to Macao enterprises in order to promote convenient and fast access to the Hengqin market, deepen financial cooperation, and also provide full support in the development and diversification of the economy of Macao. Mr. Niu said that the Hengqin Area plans to launch a series of pilot measures in order to promote internationally its opening up. The Administrative Committee would also continue to organise seminars to introduce to investors the regulations and policies, tax rules, projects and cross-border financial services available at the Hengqin Area. Through the seminars, he noted, Macao enterprises can have a better understanding of the results already achieved by ‘Hengqin Area of Zhuhai, China (Guangdong) Pilot Free Trade Zone’ and the opportunities available.
The “Seminar for Macao Enterprises – Investment Policy of Hengqin Area of Zhuhai, China (Guangdong) Pilot Free Trade Zone” attracted more than 300 participating Macao enterprises. According to representatives from participating Macao enterprises, this type of event is useful to help business people understand better the new policies available at Hengqin, so they hoped the information could be widely available to all the Macao community, in order to enable more local enterprises to enter the Hengqin market, thus promoting a deeper urban integration between Hengqin and Macao and supporting the development and diversification of the economy of Macao.
