Zhuhai's economic and social development plan for 2022 was released Feb 28 by the municipal government, aiming to achieve regional GDP growth of 6.5 percent and boost domestic demand. 

Ten other goals outlined in the plan include: a 7 percent growth in added value of industries above designated size and total retail sales of social consumer goods, an 8 percent growth in fixed-asset investments, positive growth in total import and export volume, a 5 percent growth in actual use of direct foreign investment, and 6 percent increase in general public budget revenue as well as controlling the increases in CPI and urban unemployment rate to less than 3 percent, synchronizing the rise in Zhuhai residents' per capita disposal income with local economic growth, and creating 35,000 job opportunities for urban residents.

Macao-Hengqin Youth Entrepreneurship Valley [Photo by Li Jianshu / Zhuhai Media Group]

To achieve these, Zhuhai has laid out 465 key construction projects for 2022, with total investment of 945.1 billion yuan ($149.7 billion) and annual planned investment of 115.5 billion yuan ($18.3 billion). 

Support will also be given to the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin to facilitate Zhuhai-Macao cooperation. Sixty measures facilitating Hong Kong and Macao residents' living in Zhuhai will be implemented, while more Hong Kong and Macao young talents will be attracted to Zhuhai through innovation, entrepreneurship, and employment opportunities.

Construction of Hezhou New Area will be accelerated and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) economic zone is being planned with high standards to create new spaces for Zhuhai, Hong Kong, and Macao cooperation. 

Priority will be given to the development of Zhuhai's advanced manufacturing industry, while efforts will be made to push forward the construction of major projects like the Gree Electric Appliances High-End Intelligent Manufacturing Industrial Park in Jinwan's Gaolan Port Economic Zone and Zhuhai CosMX Battery expansion project in Doumen.

A 10-billion-yuan ($2-billion) fund will be allocated for infrastructure construction of citywide industrial parks. Efforts will be made to entice prestigious domestic and overseas companies to set up regional or functional headquarters in the city. 

Other measures include establishing distinctive high-end commercial circles, as well as supporting UT Place in Old Xiangzhou, Uni Park in Qianshan, and Jinwan's Huafa Mall in applying to be designated provincial demonstrative distinctive pedestrian streets.