As the Mainland/Macao Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement become effective, the economic and trade relations between the Chinese mainland and Macao have entered into a new stage.

Macao is a free port. It used to have such handicraft industries as firecrackers, matches and incense burners for worships, with gambling as the mainstay over many years. With the rapid growth of Macao's economy led by the export-oriented manufacturing industry, a multiple economic structure came into being with the export-oriented manufacturing industry, tourist and casino industry, financial industry, real estate and building industry as the pillar.

Guangdong reaches a consensus with Macao to give priorities to the cooperation in service industry by using terms inscribed in the Mainland/Macao Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA), such as tourism and port services cooperation and to some big projects as the building of the Zhuhai-Macao cross-border industrial park and a joint exploration of the Hengqin Island in Zhuhai.

The building of the industrial park taking advantages of both Guangdong's cheap labor cost and Macao's trade network, thus further sharpen the whole PRD's competitive edge.

The work will be followed by a series of large-scale infrastructure construction to link up highway, ferry, light rail and bridge networks in Guangdong, Macao to smooth out the rising passenger and logistic flows.

Economic integration within pearl river delta will help Guangdong become one of the most important manufacturing center, meanwhile Macao will reinforce its role as the regional trade platform and tourist center, and Macao citizens will have more job opportunities.

Editor: Donald