Taking "high-quality development" as the primary task in 2023, Hezhou New Area has arranged 63 major projects this year, with total investment of 104.33 billion yuan ($15.03 billion), of which 13.26 billion yuan will be completed in 2023.

Among the projects, 35 are major industrial projects and will have an annual investment of 9.73 billion yuan. They mainly focus on the major local industrial clusters and are expected to increase the core competitiveness of these industries.

For instance, Phase I of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Logistics Park, and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Cross-border Global Central Warehouse in Hongwan Area will finish construction and become operational this year. Dong'ao Island's Lingding Coast and the Zhuhai International Financial Center in Shizimen will finish Phase II construction and start operations this year as well.

Construction site of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Logistics Park [Photo courtesy WeChat account: gh_f42262a5613d]

A batch of industry 5.0 space projects, such as the main structure of the Baokai Intelligent Manufacturing Center and Phase I of the new urban factories, will start construction in 2023.

A total of 3.12 billion yuan ($450.36 million) will go to 19 key infrastructure projects to optimize the area's urban transportation network and improve municipal services. Main transportation arteries such as Nanwan Avenue and South Lovers Avenue will be connected. Additionally, road networks near Hongwan Logistics Park, the North Area of Hongwan Port, and Phase II of the Zhuhai Free Trade Zone will move forward with their construction.

Other transportation projects will be accelerated, including the Jiangjun Tunnel - Xianghai Bridge project and Phase I of the Hongwan Avenue project.

The nine other projects are related to people's livelihood and have an annual investment of 412 million yuan ($59 million). They focus on providing more affordable rental housing and making up for weaknesses in the secondary education sector.

Seven affordable rental housing projects with floorage of more than 300,000 square meters (74 acres) will be built in areas such as the North Area of Zhuhai Free Trade Zone, Hongwan, and Wanshan.

The Shizimen Middle School project will also begin construction this year, aiming to open 60 classes and become the first public middle school in Hezhou New Area.