Reveal the Manufacturing Highlights of the Greater Bay Area

As a key strategic planning in the country's development blueprint, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) takes an important role in China's implementation of innovation-driven development and commitment to reform and opening-up. In addition, due to the excellence of geographical location and policy, the manufacturing industry of GBA has numerous advantages for development, which is another virtue for the economic growth of GBA.

Brief Introduction of GBA

The concept of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area was first put forward by Chinese government in the document of the Belt and Road in 2015. GBA is an urban cluster composed of the Lingdingyang surrounding the Pearl River Delta(PRD) region of China, including two Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macao, and nine municipalities of Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen and Zhaoqing in Guangdong Province. The total area of GBA is 56,000 k㎡ and the total population is around 70 million according to the data in the end of 2017.  [1]

Manufacturing Highlights of GBA

1.The world largest venue-- Shenzhen World Exhibition & Conventino Center

As one of the most important exhibition cities in China, Shenzhen holds a leading position in terms of total annual exhibition space sold, ranks second in terms of rental rate in 2018 and continues to develop at a strong pace. To meet the city standards of internationalization, the world’s largest exhibition center-- Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center (SW) is built in Shenzhen. SW provides a mega venue for diversify exhibitions, activities and competitions to be held in the city. Shenzhen International Industrial Manufacturing Technology Exhibition (ITES) will move into SW in March 2020, with 240,000 sqm, presents the world’s leading manufacturing technology and equipment in China.As an important strategic project of GBA, SW is committed to helping GBA become a spotlight in the international market.

2. A Well-developed Transportation & Logistics Network 

GBA boasts an advanced transportation and logistics network, with five airports and six ports, and ranks top among the four bay areas in terms of airport passenger traffic and container throughput. The dense rail and expressway networks not only give GBA advantages in multimodal transport but also strengthen its pivotal status in the Belt and Road initiative. [2] Compared with other regions in Chinese mainland and overseas, GBA, as a major passageway for air, land and sea transport linking countries along the Belt and Road, has obvious advantages in terms of geographical location and logistics infrastructure. [3]

3.Powerful Innovative Strength

Cities in GBA invest heavily in R&D, among which Shenzhen invests 4.1% of its GDP, far exceeding the OECD average. GBA has a great edge in 5G technology, artificial intelligence (AI), genetic sequencing and new energy vehicle manufacturing. With the lead of hi-tech companies like Huawei, GAC Motor and Midea, a large number of smart and innovative enterprises will emerge in GBA, which will provide a strong technical force for the development of the manufacturing industry. Additionally, GBA has four of the world's top 100 universities and six National High-Tech Industrial Development Zones, and boasts 176,000 applications for invention patents. In its report The Global Innovation Index 2018, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) ranked the Shenzhen-Hong Kong region as second only to Tokyo-Yokohama in global innovation. Undoubtedly, the strong talent pool has provided a good foundation for the development of GBA manufacturing.[2]

4.Strong Industrial Cluster

GBA has a clear division of industries among cities. The professional services of Hong Kong and Macau, and the science and innovation resources of Guangzhou and Shenzhen, combined with mature manufacturing industries in other GBA cities, facilitate the resource sharing in GBA. 

Under the innovation-driven development strategy of China, a high-tech industrial belt has gradually taken shape in the PRD. The PRD High-tech Industrial Belt is one of the three national-level belts of its kind approved by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST). This belt covers six national high-tech industrial development zones in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Foshan, Zhongshan, Zhuhai and Huizhou; three provincial high-tech industrial development zones in Dongguan, Zhaoqing and Jiangmen; two national software industrial bases in Guangzhou and Zhuhai; three national high-tech products export bases; twelve national '863' achievement transformation bases; and one national-level university technology park. [3]

Conclusion 

By combining the strengths of each city, GBA aims to create a world-class technology innovative bay area, achieving the rapid development of high-end manufacturing. As a famous professional industry exhibition in South China, ITES exhibition will also contribute to the development of the Greater Bay Area, helping the manufacturing industry in GBA have a better growth.

References:

[1].  Overview of Greater Bay Area

[2].  Economic Breakdown: Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area

[3].  粤港澳大湾区发展前瞻及香港的功能

[4].  The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area–Your business opportunity