How will Dongguan, a city well-known for manufacturing in Guangdong province, 
march forward as the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay 
Area continues? A documentary series "The Manufacturing Era" has been a recent 
hit in China, showing the world the status quo of the city's manufacturing 
industry and its efforts for transformation. 

Taking "Dongguan manufacturing" as an example, the documentary once again 
attracts global attention to "Made in China". A pool of technicians with 
vitality in innovation and entrepreneurship in an open economy enabled the 
city's advanced manufacturing to be more globally competitive, said experts at 
a meeting on the film held by the Information Office of Dongguan Municipality 
on March 28.

The first episode introduces how companies, workers and technicians in Dongguan 
learn to operate robots, improve techniques for efficient production and carve 
out competitive products. It tells the city is seeking a change amid the trend 
of industrial transformation and upgrading. The fundamental elements for 
advanced manufacturing include precision, scale and efficiency, together with 
competent technical personnel that require long-term training. Experts viewed 
that a pool of technicians would give Dongguan more comparative advantages when 
building a world-class advanced manufacturing cluster.

By 2020, Dongguan will foster 10,000 international skilled talents, introduce 
another 10,000 personnel with craftsmanship in urgent need, and promote one 
million people to enhance academic achievement and skills.

The second episode introduces a host of ambitious Dongguan businessmen 
promoting innovation and entrepreneurship. It echoes the fact that Dongguan is 
creating a sound environment for global business to energize market players, 
noted Bai Ming, deputy director of the International Market Institute at the 
Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation at the meeting. 
Official data shows that Dongguan was home to over 1.15 million market entities 
by the end of 2018, and attracted 102 foreign-funded projects worth over USD 10 
million for each in 2018 alone, with the total contract value up to USD 3.65 
billion.

Meanwhile, experts pointed out that with the development of the Greater Bay 
Area, Dongguan would become more capable of having its innovation outcomes 
commercialized, which is of great importance to energize the market. Liang 
Weidong, Secretary of the CPC Dongguan Municipal Committee, said in a recent 
interview that going ahead, an improved industrial network will allow Dongguan 
to contribute to the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Macao Science and Technology 
Innovation Corridor and strengthen its capabilities of research, development 
and commercialization of R&D outcomes. Beyond increased cooperation with the 
core cities like Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hong Kong and Macao, Dongguan will 
further bring together major scientific and technological infrastructure, 
research institutes, and innovative firms and talents. That's how it can 
vitalize all innovative players and grow into China's demonstration zone for 
transferring and commercializing innovations.

As the series show, an increasing number of Dongguan firms are embracing 
globalization, with many setting up factories overseas. The Dongguan-based 
ceramics manufacturer Marco Polo Group has established a factory in Tennessee 
of US. Vivo, a technology company, has founded its plants in Jakarta, Indonesia 
and Delhi, India. The Dongguan watch maker Dailywin now owns a factory in 
Switzerland. 

Dongguan companies always give priorities to efficiency, quality and cost, so 
they can outweigh counterparts in going global, said the representative from 
the Marco Polo Group, adding that with advanced equipment, they can produce top 
quality products.

According to Liang Weihao, president of Dailywin, there are about 1.1 billion 
watches made worldwide every year. Among them, 70 million are from Switzerland, 
yet 90% of the parts are manufactured in China. The shared aspiration for 
better quality and manufacturing strength has bridged the two countries to 
cooperate closely and open a wider global market.

Experts believed the continuous development of the Greater Bay Area has enabled 
Dongguan companies to expand their business overseas at a faster pace. The city 
should further cooperate with Hong Kong and Macao in essential fields like 
investment and trade, industrial transformation and market development, to 
jointly promote the Belt and Road Initiative and pursue all-round opening up as 
a showcase.

Source: The Information Office of Dongguan Municipality