Zhuhai Tower houses Macao emerging-industries base

A service base promoting Zhuhai-Macao cooperation and the moderate economic diversification of Macao opened at Zhuhai Tower in Shizimen Central Business District on Dec 10.

The base will assist in innovation and entrepreneurship by Macao youth, especially in emerging industries such as sci-tech innovation, characterized finance, medical treatment and healthcare, cross-border commerce and trade, culture-tourism and convention-exhibition, and professional service.

Huafa Group began construction of the facility in May on 30,000 sq m (7.4 acres) over 12 floors of the 330-m Zhuhai Tower. On offer is 50,000 sq m of international office area and associated public service space, including reserved zones for Macao enterprise-sharing and independent offices, Macao youth innovation and entrepreneurship, Macao university alumni enterprise offices, Zhuhai-Macao design center, and Hong Kong-Macao youth internship base.

So far, 105 Macao enterprises and innovation-entrepreneurship teams have signed up for settlement. They are expected to generate annual output value of 1 billion yuan ($142 million) and more than 3,000 jobs once the operation matures.

Of note is PricewaterhouseCoopers' (PwC) Service Base on the West Bank of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, which will offer high-quality audit, consulting, and tax services to Macao enterprises in Zhuhai, Jiangmen, and Zhongshan cities.

PwC is one of the Big Four auditors, along with Deloitte, EY, and KPMG. The London-headquartered multinational professional services network has offices across 157 countries and regions, and more than 276,000 employees.

Others to settle in the service bases include Parafuturo de Macau Investment & Development Ltd, Macau Expo Group, as well as innovation-entrepreneurship teams of the University of Macau, Macau University of Science & Technology, and City University of Macau.

The service base provides all-round public services related to industry and commerce, taxation, legal affairs, and human resources. This is guaranteed by its collaboration with 30 organizations including the Hengqin New Area Administrative Committee, Zhuhai Industry & Information Technology Bureau, Zhuhai Municipal Human Resources & Social Security Bureau, and the three Macao universities. Fifteen banks and financial institutions have also pledged financing support.

In addition, two downtown-bound and cross-border express lines now serve commuters. Nearby housing, convention and exhibition, catering, cultural, and sport resources are in place.

Among those attending the launch ceremony were Zhuhai Mayor Yao Yisheng; Wang Xindong, secretary general of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR; Zhao Jianguo, Zhuhai deputy Party chief; and other senior officials and executives of Zhuhai and Macao.