China first started implementing Special Economic Zones(SEZ) in the year 1980 
in southeastern coastal area, with Zhuhai being one of them. As a pilot area in 
reform and opening-up, beyond tax incentives to foreign investors, SEZs enjoy 
simplified customs procedures and fewer regulatory constraints. 

This year marks the 40th anniversary of Zhuhai SEZ. According to the 
Information Office of Zhuhai Municipality, "In 40 years, Zhuhai has become one 
of the cities with the widest development space, the best development 
environment and policies in the Pearl River Delta."

Opening-up has made Zhuhai more attractive and unlocked its potential for 
development. Many foreign-funded companies have come to the city where quality 
enterprises experience fast growth.

Print Rite Group, the Hong Kong-funded enterprise, has seized the opportunities 
of SEZ and set up its Print Rite printer ribbon manufacturing plant in Zhuhai. 
He Liangmei, chairman of the board of directors of Print Rite Holdings Co., 
Ltd., said, "Close to Hong Kong and Macao, Zhuhai has a low cost for land and 
labor. The government has supported companies in innovation and transformation 
and upgrading." Now, the company has exported products to more than 120 
countries and regions globally.

It is the efficient regulatory mechanisms and convenient customs clearance that 
have made Zhuhai a popular destination for multinational companies. In the 
first quarter of this year, Zhuhai has already signed more than 30 new key 
projects ranging from equipment manufacturing, new materials, information 
technology to pharmaceuticals, the value of which exceeds 5.8 billion USD.

To retain capital in the long run, the city must continuously maintain its 
comparative edge by refining and expanding the benefits it offers investors. To 
this end, Zhuhai has identified its next strategic advantage: strengthening 
cooperation with Macao and Shenzhen to build a hub for the efficient allocation 
of resources such as human capital, technology and funding. 

The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge has connected Zhuhai, Hong Kong and Macao 
more closely. With the Bridge, the trip from Zhuhai to Hong Kong has been 
drastically shortened from 4.5 hour drive to within an hour. 

After the opening of the Bridge, many multinational consumer goods companies 
are looking to set up warehouses in Zhuhai. Enterprises enjoy low fixed costs 
and efficient service here, as well as the ability to easily access managerial 
talents.

Ding Liqiang is intimately familiar with the seismic shift that this 
infrastructure has brought to Zhuhai. Ding came to Zhuhai to set up a company 
specializing in cross-border e-commerce business, which has charted an annual 
sales growth rate of over 50% for the past three years. Ding believes that 
Zhuhai can become a logistics hub, a highland for modern services, and a new 
gateway connecting Chinese and overseas markets.

Guo Yonghang, secretary of the Zhuhai Municipal Party Committee, stated that to 
strengthen cooperation with Macao, Zhuhai has not only provided policy support 
and expanded cooperation fields, but also made greater efforts to develop 
emerging industries, planning to build an in-depth cooperation zone between 
Guangdong and Macao.

As a key area for cooperation between Macao and Zhuhai, the Hengqin Free Trade 
Zone of Zhuhai, has accumulated more than 440 achievements in system innovation 
in ten years' development. The Zone's GDP now grows at an average annual rate 
of 64%.

Now, cooperation with Shenzhen further boosts Zhuhai's growth. "Zhuhai takes 
initiative to undertake the industrial transfer resources of Shenzhen, promote 
the flow of high-end factors, to build a modern industrial system with 
international competitiveness," said Guo.

Source: The Information Office of Zhuhai Municipality