The Hengqin Guangdong-Macao in-depth cooperation zone is the starting point and fertile ground for Macao youth to integrate into the development of the Greater Bay Area. Through multi-channel exchanges and interactions in various fields, many Macao youths who live and work here have gained a deep understanding of national development through Hengqin. Their dreams of innovation and entrepreneurship take root, sprout, blossom, and bear fruit in this cooperative zone. At the same time, they become bridges for communication between mainland China and Macao, helping Macao better integrate into the overall national development.
Entrepreneurship, investment, work, life... On the special occasion of 23 years since Macao's return to China, several Macao youths living in Hengqin shared their "dual-city" lives and talked about their choices, efforts and opportunities.
Wu Hongqi:
Assisting in the Innovation and Linkage of Qinho Technology
"Since the 23rd anniversary of the return to China, Macau has undergone tremendous changes." Wu Hongqi, a young person from Macau born in the 1980s, sees these changes in his eyes and is happy about them.
"In that year when Macau returned to China, I was just 12 years old. I participated in the celebration parade organized by the Macao SAR government with a thousand people playing waist drums. Being able to participate in this performance made me feel honored," said Wu Hongqi. He added that after Macau's return to China, there have been significant improvements in social security and many job opportunities emerged. Education has also continued to develop well. "Thanks to favorable education policies, university enrollment rates for young people are very high in Macau. Through various channels, I can continuously enrich myself with knowledge and pursue further studies at University of Macau majoring information systems management." Today, Wu Hongqi serves as an executive director of Bovi Intelligence Technology Co., Ltd.
The report on the 20th National Congress of CPC mentioned strategies such as "innovation-driven development", which injected new vitality into those engaged in technology industries like Wu Hongqi.
On November 23rd evening, Wu Hongqi gave a keynote speech at Hengqin International Business Center introducing Bovi Intelligence's experience rooted and developed within cooperation zones (Hengqin). The event attracted around fifty representatives from Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) youth talent pool along with over one thousand online viewership audience members from both sides of Pearl River Delta region (PRD). As a local IT enterprise founded since 2010 operating across different levels including subsidiaries located throughout regions such as:Macau,Hong Kong,Hengqin,and Guangzhou; Bovi Intelligence established its first network security operation center in Macau in 2017. Meanwhile, to better explore business expansion opportunities, Bovi Intelligence has built a 24-hour uninterrupted network security center within cooperation zones.
"Thanks to abundant talent resources on the mainland and gradually released policy dividends of cooperation zones, our company's development scale continues to grow," said Wu Hongqi. Here at Hengqin Cooperation Zone (HCZ), Bovi Intelligence not only expanded its employee base but also leveraged HCZ's inherent advantages through industry-academia-research collaboration efforts aimed at creating local technological achievements and establishing brand recognition for Macau.
Currently, Bovi Intelligence is actively laying out its market presence within Greater Bay Area (GBA). On July 15th this year, Bovi Intelligence Technology Co., Ltd was listed on the main board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange becoming "Macau's first technology stock". With support from the Macao SAR government,Bovi Intelligence established a joint industry-academia-research laboratory with National IoT Key Laboratory focusing on promoting projects related to biotechnology and smart IoT fields. The iris identification clearance system that Bovi Intelligence is currently developing uses dual-eye iris recognition technology for identity verification."I hope we will have an opportunity to apply this system at Qinho Port vehicle inspection channel contributing towards deeper integration between cooperation zones and Macau," said Wu Hongqi.
Ng Wai In:
Actively participating in the construction of the cooperation zone
Promoting diversified development of Macau's industries
When Ng Wai In, CEO of Dou Yuen Group and Chairman of Macau Innovative Investment Federation, first came to Hengqin, it was all under construction. In just a few years, Hengqin has undergone tremendous changes. Skyscrapers have risen up, roads have become wider and supporting facilities have become more complete...
In 2019, Ng Wai In founded Dou Yuen Group in Macau, focusing on two business sectors: investing in technology innovation enterprises and building industrial parks. Through its subsidiaries' QFLP (Qualified Foreign Limited Partner) fund management qualifications obtained through foreign investment equity investments in Hengqin.
"Private equity funds cover innovative entrepreneurship investment and securities investment categories. They are an indispensable part of modern financial industry that is key to the development of Macau. Through QFLP channels, capital from Macau can directly participate in sharing dividends from stock investments in Greater Bay Area's science and technology enterprises to accelerate capital flow factors and promote diversified development of Macau's industries," said Ng Wai In.
At this time when Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau cooperation is booming with high-quality technology companies coming one after another while four major focus industries are being planned out along with multiple policy advantages stacking up together; Ng Wai In realized that the construction of Hengqin Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Cooperation Zone provides important conditions for integrating into Greater Bay Area Construction as well as creating a good platform for participation by Macao’s capital into national strategic investments.
In March of this year, Ng wai ian and a group of patriotic young entrepreneurs jointly established the Macau Innovation Investment Federation, dedicated to building an innovative investment industry exchange platform, promoting the settlement of venture capital companies in the Hengqin Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and supporting moderate diversification of Macau's economy. In November, the Macau Innovation Investment Federation held its first Qinho-Ao project docking negotiation meeting in Hengqin, attracting nearly 40 participants from investors and project parties. Among them were high-quality projects in integrated circuits and biomedicine fields such as Jingzhiying, Lingyange and Noel Medical. As of now, member companies of the Macau Innovation Investment Federation have completed investments in some technology-based enterprises in Hengqin.
Since the establishment of the cooperation zone until now, Ng wai ian has found that it has shown a significant upward trend in attracting residents and Macao-funded enterprises. The economy is gradually moving towards reality with industrial policy dividends accelerating release while rules between Qinho and Ao continue to deepen integration. He encourages young people in Macao to be witnesses, participants and beneficiaries practicing "one country two systems" by leveraging their own advantages to help national construction; he wishes for full play on "one country two systems" institutional advantages under opportunities brought by national strategy development policies for Greater Bay Area as well as cooperation zone construction so that they can take a path with distinctive features.
Leong Ka Lok：
Becoming a Pioneer in Promoting Integration between Macau and Hengqin.
In December 2021, the Guangdong office of the Macau Women's Federation was officially established, and the Qinao Parent-Child Activity Center began serving residents of Hengqin. Leong Ka Lok, a social worker from Macau born in the 1990s, took this opportunity to work in Hengqin. At first, Leong found that mainland residents living in Hengqin did not have a deep understanding of what social workers do and often mistook them for volunteers or community committee staff members.
After more than a year of exploration through participating in parent-child activities and following up on cases, Leong gradually became familiar with the surrounding residents and introduced the services provided by the Guangdong office of the Macau Women's Federation to more people. Through communication with residents and coordination with different units, Leong slowly gained clear recognition of Hengqin's current situation and changes. When facing inquiries from people, he could respond calmly and patiently.
Regarding his gains and feelings after coming to Hengqin, Leong said that his work experience there has filled him with energy; he feels like he is always moving forward towards development every day.
In the eyes of friends from Macau, Leong is one of the pioneers who ventured into exploring opportunities in Hengqin. They are curious about differences between Hengqin’s current state compared to that of Macau’s; therefore Leung shares his personal experiences with them as they exchange questions back-and-forth. Gradually becoming an intermediary role during integration processes among Qinao residents has allowed him to pass along information between both regions’ inhabitants.
Like many young people pursuing their dreams within cooperation zones such as these two cities (Macau & Henquin), Leung senses how rapidly things are changing in Hengqin. "As a young person from Macau, I truly feel the care and support that the central government has for fellow Macanese, and I have a sense of happiness being within the embrace of our motherland," Leong said.
Liu Xinhui：
Let Chinese Culture Lead Macau's New Fashion Trend.
Liu Xinhui, a fashion artist born in the 1990s in Macau, has witnessed the changes in Macau's fashion trend since its return to China 23 years ago. "Due to its geographical advantage, many people used to be more enthusiastic about international brands because of their abundance and affordability," she said. With the rise of Chinese culture in recent years, Liu Xinhui found that more and more domestic brands have entered the public eye with excellent craftsmanship winning over hearts.
The report from the 20th National Congress of Communist Party of China pointed out that promoting cultural confidence and strength will create new socialist cultural brilliance. "Chinese culture is becoming increasingly popular not only because of its products but also due to its profound cultural heritage as part of the Chinese nation's creative transformation and innovative development; it represents deep-seated cultural confidence and national identity." Liu believes that Macau, which is relatively open-minded towards different cultures, is suitable for being a transit point for exporting Chinese culture through fashion trends. The Cantonese-style culture and Portuguese-style culture preserved by Macau can both be promoted through fashion trends as well.
"The advantages between Zhuhai (China) and Macao are rich tourism resources where foreign tourists can experience local cultures firsthand; therefore creating an attractive cultural environment would help attract more visitors who could then promote beauty between Zhuhai (China)and Macao," she added.
Currently, The Tourism Bureau of the Government Special Administrative Region (SAR), Cultural Affairs Bureau SAR Government,and Cultural Development Fund SAR Government are all promoting creative industries' development in order to provide fertile ground for designers based on three years ago when we were selected into a special project aimed at shaping up tourism branding for MACAO jointly with mascot Mak Mak using elements from local cultures."
Liu believes that if they want to make 'Guochao' (Chinese fashion trend) more popular, Macau's fashion brands should continue to explore Chinese traditional culture and integrate more excellent cultural elements into product design, promoting the Guochao culture in the international market.
Regarding her vision for the development of cultural arts in Hengqin Island and Macau, Liu told reporters that due to its beautiful ecological environment, there are now more and more Macau cultural associations holding events on Hengqin Island. "In fact, there is a lot of space for artistic creation on Hengqin Island; we can consider building a platform for fashion exchange by gathering Chinese design elements to create a new highland of creativity between Qin (Hengqin)and Ao(Macau).
Mok Chiu Kwan：
Leading Macau Youth
To Shine on the Vast Stage of the Motherland
Speaking about the changes happening in Macau, Mok Chiu Kwan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Macau Federation of Trade Unions, said that she is personally experiencing Macau's transition towards a diversified economy and society. "Since its return to China under the protection of the Constitution and Basic Law of Macao, social harmony has been maintained and stability ensured. As a result, Macao has become one of the fastest-growing regions in terms of economic growth worldwide with per capita GDP ranking among Asia's top."
As Macau gradually moves towards moderate diversification in its development, young people in this new era are also seeking their dreams through diversified entrepreneurship and employment opportunities. Mok Chiu Kwan said that with the issuance of both "Outline Development Plan for Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area" and "Overall Plan for Construction on Hengqin Guangdong-Macao Deep Cooperation Zone," more and more entrepreneurs from Macau have chosen Hengqin as their first choice location. They not only see great prospects for development within Greater Bay Area but also prepare themselves to enter into larger markets within China.
Mok Chiu Kwan introduced that as one among many associations in Macau, The Federation is committed to promoting youth development by continuously organizing exchange activities with Mainland China over recent years. In particular, they have organized several visits for young people from Macao to learn about characteristic industries and development projects in Hengqin so as to understand its economic development and living environment better. "We hope that through these activities we can help young people from our city understand four major industries within cooperation zones while familiarizing them with policies benefiting both Hong Kong SAR &Macanese residents (Hui Ao Policy). We aim at leading our youth into participating in the development of cooperation zones and shining on the vast stage of our motherland," said Mok Chiu Kwan.
