GBA briefs

Hong Kong: WeChat HK Wallet offline transactions grow sevenfold

WeChat HK Wallet has shown significant growth in offline transactions in Shenzhen with a more than sevenfold increase since the first month of the full resumption of normal travel between the special administrative region and the Chinese mainland in February.

The Hong Kong digital wallet can be used at nearly 30 shopping malls in several districts in Shenzhen during a monthlong campaign, with participating merchants offering rewards for SAR travelers from Sept 15 through Oct 15, including the distribution of e-coupons. The merchants are also supporting more than 680 online and offline events at the annual three-month Shenzhen Shopping Festival, which runs from August through October.

Macao: Services center inaugurated in Hengqin cooperation zone

A government services center was inaugurated at the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone on Hengqin Island, Zhuhai, on Sept 11. It offers 998 categories of government services involving 20 departments, covering business registration and licensing, foreign investment, immigration and social insurance.

The center also set up a specialized counter for Macao-related services, enabling Macao residents to complete them without having to return to the SAR. So far, self-service machines of two Macao SAR government bureaus have been set up at the center to allow Macao residents to renew their travel documents and obtain personal tax information. The machines can also process personal data, as well as certifications of no criminal record.

Guangzhou: First biofuel refueling for international ships fulfilled

Bao Ning Ling — an oceangoing vessel — was refueled with 300 metric tons of biofuel oil (B24) by a barge on Sept 7. It marked the first completion of duty-free biofuel oil refueling for international ships in China.

B24 biofuel is a marine clean fuel containing 24 percent of biodiesel that can effectively reduce carbon emissions and minimize environmental pollution. The refueling operation represents an innovative measure taken by Guangdong's provincial capital, Guangzhou, following the successful implementation of duty-free marine fuel oil and liquefied natural gas refueling.

Shenzhen: Charity fair seals business deals worth eight billion yuan

The 10th China Charity Fair was held in Shenzhen from Sept 15 to 17, with more than 5,000 domestic and international organizations showcasing their projects and products. More than 280,000 people attended the fair offline and online, signing letters of intent worth nearly eight billion yuan ($1.1 billion) during the three-day event.

This year's fair covered an exhibition area of about 45,000 square meters, with 10 sub-venues across the city. More than 20 seminars and roundtable discussions were held to discuss issues like charity development in China, social services and technology.

Zhuhai: Projects help to enhance transportation system

Transportation infrastructure linking Zhuhai's Hengqin Island with the Macao Special Administrative Region has been continuously optimized since the Overall Plan for the Construction of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone on Hengqin was launched on Sept 5, 2021.

Projects like Shizimen Tunnel, Hengqin Bridge, Hengqin Tunnel and Hengqin Second Bridge have established vital connections between Hengqin and Zhuhai. The interconnectivity between Macao and the Chinese mainland has been enhanced by projects linking cities on both sides of the Pearl River, including the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge.

In the first four months of this year, the number of Macao residents entering and departing from Hengqin checkpoint reached 1.28 million — up 92 percent from the previous year.

Foshan: Seven firms among nation's top 500 private enterprises

Seven Foshan enterprises have joined the list of China's 2023 Top 500 private enterprises released by the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce on Sept 12.

The Foshan firms are Midea Group Co, Midea Real Estate Holding, Hongwang Group, Xinghai Copper and Aluminum Industry Co, Lesso Technology Co, Galanz Group and Guangdong Zhengsheng Metal Co.

According to a research and analysis report, the entry threshold, in terms of revenue in 2022, for the top 500 private enterprises stood at 27.58 billion yuan. A total of 8,961 companies with annual revenues exceeding 500 million yuan participated in the research.

Huizhou: Festival highlights HK, Macao cultural exchanges

Huizhou will host the second edition of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Guitar Culture and Arts Festival from Sept 22 to 24.

The three-day event, to be held at Peninsula Culture and Sports Park, will feature prominent singers and top bands.

Hong Kong and Macao cultural exchange activities will be added to this year's festival. Huizhou will present dances with intangible cultural heritage elements and local bands, with a children's choir and a youth orchestra due to perform in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region before October to promote cultural exchanges between the two cities.

Dongguan: Dongguan among pilot cities for SMEs' transformation

Dongguan has been chosen as one of the nation's 30 pilot cities for the digital transformation of small and medium-sized enterprises, according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Ministry of Finance.

The two-year pilot program is aimed at prioritizing the digitalization of SMEs in key manufacturing sectors, including general and specialized equipment manufacturing, automotive manufacturing and pharmaceuticals.

Dongguan has made significant progress in this area, with 5,191 large-scale industrial enterprises having initiated digital transformation in 2022. As of July this year, 1,018 enterprises had already completed the transformation, surpassing the yearly target. Dongguan is expected to see 1,200 more enterprises digitalized by the end of this year.

Zhongshan: 'Mooncake city' rakes in the festival dollars

Zhongshan, renowned for its century-old tradition of producing Cantonese-style mooncakes, exported 636 metric tons of these delectable treats to more than 30 countries and regions worldwide between January and August. Total sales from these exports reached 59.48 million yuan.

Mooncakes are the ritualistic staple of the Mid-Autumn Festival, which falls on Sept 29 this year.

To help local businesses overcome international technical trade barriers, Zhongshan has implemented a "one-enterprise, one-policy" approach to ensure that companies are aware of adjustments and changes in foreign regulations, offering customized growth support strategies for local small- and medium-sized enterprises.

Jiangmen: Jiangmen, Shenzhen team up to boost port operations

Executives of Shenzhen's Yantian Port visited the Port of Jiangmen recently to discuss rolling out port cooperation projects, such as expressways and port operations, and a planned Shenzhen-Jiangmen cooperation zone aimed at facilitating integrative growth of the two cities.

The Port of Jiangmen last month opened a new route between the city's Gaosha and Shenzhen's Yantian districts, adopting a combination customs service. As part of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Combo Port Project, the service can cut customs clearance time from four hours to 30 minutes.

Zhaoqing: Industry bellwethers join nation's top 500 firms list

Two Zhaoqing-based companies — Zhaoqing Xiaopeng New Energy Investment Co and Guangdong Jintian Copper Co — have been listed among China's top 500 private enterprises this year. Xpeng Motors — the parent company of Xiaopeng New Energy Investment Co — said on Sept 7 it would launch a new model program in Zhaoqing with a total investment of two billion yuan, focusing on the development of new vehicle models, production line transformation and market advancement.

Guangdong Jintian Copper Co has seen its production capacity rising steadily since the company launched the first phase of a development project in 2021 and achieved an annual output value of 15.06 billion yuan last year. The company plans to start the project's second phase before the end of this year.