[2018/12/28] New Recruitment Phase of Investment Projects for the “Guangdong-Macao Co-operation Industrial Park” in Hengqin Aiming at High and New Technology, Emerging Industries and High-end Service Industries

In an effort to implement the Framework Agreement on C-operation between Guangdong and Macao and maximise the influence of the Guangdong-Macao Co-operation Industrial Park on the moderate diversification of Macao’s economic development, the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) and the Administrative Committee of the Hengqin New Area will initiate a new phase of investment recruitment for Guangdong-Macao Co-operation Industrial Park and start accepting applications for using the rest 2.57 square kilometres in the Park with a new assessment mechanism from 31^st this month.  At the joint press conference, both IPIM’s Acting President Irene Va Kuan Lau and the Director of Administrative Committee of the Hengqin New Area Yang Chuan said that the new phase of investment recruitment will focus on high and new technology, strategic emerging industries and high-end service industry, with a view to contributing to the development of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, supporting the reform and opening-up of the country to enter a new era, helping more Macao enterprises to grasp the key opportunities arising from the Belt and Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, nurturing new economic drivers by further utilising the Guangdong-Macao Co-operation Industrial Park in Hengqin as a carrier and platform.

IPIM and the Administrative Committee of the Hengqin New Area jointly held a press conference today (28 Dec) to announce the commencement of a new phase of investment recruitment and relevant updates. According to Mrs Irene Va Kuan Lau, the new phase of investment recruitment will adhere to the principle that the assessment is led by the Macao SAR Government, with the full support of the Hengqin New Area, the assessment will be jointly participated by Hengqin and Macao. In order to select and recommend with precision quality projects which are beneficial to the economic development of both Macao and Hengqin, each of the governments from both regions will send 6 representatives, together with 3 representatives from Macao’s industries and professional sectors, to form the Assessment Committee for the Macao Projects for Hengqin Development that consists of 15 members in total.

According to Yang Chuan, the new assessment mechanism in the new phase of investment recruitment for the Guangdong-Macao Co-operation Industrial Park is the concrete action Zhuhai and Macao take to carry out the instruction of the General Secretary. Hengqin will carry forward its initial resolution and mission to optimise the services and facilitations provided by the Industrial Park for approved investment projects, with the ultimate goal of enhancing the diversified development of Macao’s industries. In the meantime, Hengqin will also speed up the works related to contract signing with project holders and land registration and concession. We aim at promoting a new industrial collaboration model that will benefit both regions by carry through a deepened co-operation between the two regions and taking advantages of the opportunities arising in the construction of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Macao Science and Technology Innovation Corridor in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

As opined by Mr Kou Hoi In, President of the Board of Directors of the Macao Chamber of Commerce cum member of the Assessment Committee for the Macao Projects for Hengqin Development, the Macao Chamber of Commerce, as a bridge that unifies different industries, will continue to support Macao’s industrial and commercial sectors to give full play to their unique supportive role in investment making, institutional reform, the country’s two-way opening up and pilot implementation. According to Kou, the Macao Chamber of Commerce will support Macao enterprises to pro-actively integrate theirselves into the state’s momentum and further enhance Macao’s unique position and strengths by making good use of the Park.

According to Mr Lam Kam Seng, Vice President of the Council for Science and Technology, the new phase of investment recruitment attaches great significance to high and new technology and strategic emerging industries. He believes that the new formation of the Assessment Committee which involves representatives from different sectors will bring different viewpoints to the assessment and benefit both regions in terms of their participation in the construction of the International Innovation and Technology Hub in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and regional collaboration in innovation and technology.

Following the recommendation of 83 projects for the Guangdong-Macao Co-operation Industrial Park in April 2014 and October 2016 involving the industries of tourism and leisure, logistics and trade, scientific research and development, cultural and creative industries as well as high and new technology, and in consideration of the current development progress of the industrial park, the Macao SAR Government has liaised and co-ordinated with the Administrative Committee of Hengqin New Area and adopted a new assessment mechanism for selecting investment projects to be carried out in the rest of 2.57 square kilometres of the Guangdong-Macao Co-operation Industrial Park, and accept applications for investments’ entry into the Park.

Caption: The Macao Trade and Investment Promotion and the Administrative Committee of Hengqin New Area jointly hold the Press Conference on New Recruitment Phase of Investment Projects for the “Guangdong-Macao Co-operation Industrial Park”