In 2021, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area's GDP stood at 12.6 trillion RMB, an increase of 2.4 trillion RMB higher than that in 2017.
Now there are 25 enterprises in the GBA listed among the Fortune Global 500, growing by 8 compared to that in 2017. Besides, there are over 60,000 high-tech enterprises in Guangdong, mostly located within the Greater Bay Area, over 20,000 more than that in 2017.
The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (Photo: Nanfang Daily)
This information is according to Zheng Renhao, director-general of Guangdong's Development and Reform Commission at a press conference about GBA's development and Shenzhen as a pilot demonstration area of socialism with Chinese characteristics held Tuesday morning.
In terms of technological innovation, 5 major science and technology infrastructures have been planned for the Greater Bay Area during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), ranking first in China. Now the GBA is home to 10 provincial laboratories and 20 laboratories jointly set up by the three regions.
The number of foreign talents in Guangdong accounts for 20% of the national total and the province's research and development personnel has exceeded 1.1 million.
A one-hour living circle has been basically formed within the GBA with the construction and operation of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, Guangdong-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, and other cross-river channels connecting the Pearl River Estuary's east and west banks. The total mileage of rail lines in service in the GBA has reached nearly 2,500 kilometers.
Guangdong-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (Photo: Nanfang Daily)
A world-class airport cluster and a port cluster are taking shape. Now the GBA has a 200 million passenger throughput and an 80 million-TEUs port container throughput.
In addition, the Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin has registered more than 4,700 Macao-invested enterprises by now, which has tripled over the past two years.
Shenzhen's export volume ranks first among mainland cities for 29 years
According to Huang Min, executive vice mayor of Shenzhen, Shenzhen's GDP in 2021 exceeded 3 trillion RMB, of which the proportion of social investment in R&D reached 5.46%. Its import and export volume totaled 3.5 trillion RMB, with exports ranking first among mainland cities for 29 consecutive years, and actual use of foreign investment of about 11 billion USD.
Busy Yantian Port in Shenzhen (Photo: Nanfang Daily)
Last September, the central authorities issued a plan to deepen reform and opening up of the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone, expanding its total area to 120.56 square km from 14.92 square km. By now, the expanded Qianhai Cooperation Zone has registered 11,900 Hong Kong-invested enterprises, with a GDP of 175.57 billion RMB, an increase of 10.5%.
Huang added, 2021 has seen a 156% year-on-year increase of Hong Kong-invested enterprises settling down in the zone. Hong Kong investment took up 93.8% of Qianhai's actual use of foreign capital.
Author | Abby
Editor | Wing, Olivia, Will, Jerry
