The 2026 Global Investment Promotion Conference for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area kicked off in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province, on Tuesday afternoon, highlighting Guangdong's progress in high-level opening-up and fresh opportunities for industrial collaboration in the area.
It provides a broad platform for investment and cooperation by enterprises at home and abroad, attracting more global capital, high-quality projects, and high-caliber talents to converge in GBA, senior officials said.
"With concerted efforts, Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao have yielded tangible results in deepening GBA development," Wang Wentao, minister of commerce, said.
"As this year kicks off the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30), the Ministry of Commerce will join the three regions to vigorously advance the Greater Bay Area's high-quality growth, lift external opening-up, bolster inter-regional collaboration, leverage each region's distinctive strengths, and jointly support Chinese modernization development," he said.
Wang made the remarks during a video speech at the themed conference of the annual event.
The GBA features vibrant growth, extensive opening, a full industrial chain, and a top-tier business climate — a prime destination for investment, he said.
Wang urged investors and business representatives at home and abroad to seize chances, step up exchanges, broaden cooperation, and build a bright future built on mutual gains.
Meng Fanli, governor of Guangdong, said his province will press ahead with deeper reforms and broader high-level opening-up, build a first-class business climate and industrial ecosystem, and deliver a better environment for investment, innovation, entrepreneurship, and daily life in Guangdong.
John Lee Ka-chiu, chief executive of Hong Kong, said that — with its unique position under "One Country, Two Systems" that combines national and global opportunities — Hong Kong will continue to spare no efforts to help build the GBA into an internationally competitive world-class bay area and city cluster.
Hong Kong will keep acting as a prime platform to share the GBA's opportunities, link global markets, and deliver mutual gains — staying a "super connector" and "super value-adder", he said.
Chief Executive of Macao Sam Hou-fai said Macao will leverage its distinctive connectivity advantages, step up investment promotion, integrate key industries with GBA resources, boost innovation linkages and deep collaboration, and amplify the driving force of its competitive sectors. "Building on integrated 'Macao + Hengqin' development, it will work alongside Guangdong and Hong Kong to speed up efforts toward a world-class bay area and city clusters," he added.
Jean-Philippe Lamarcade, EDF Group vice-president and chairman of EDF China, said Guangdong's greatest strength lies in its unique and mature industrial ecosystem.
"Here, customers, suppliers, constructors, and top-tier talent are all concentrated within the same region, creating a synergistic efficiency that is hard to replicate elsewhere," he said.
The event was jointly hosted by the governments of Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao, and included policy promotion, on-the-spot investigation, and business talks.
