Hakka support Hengqin - THE Hengqin New Area Administrative Committee signed a strategic partnership framework agreement with a Guangdong investment firm composed of Hakka Chamber of Commerce members last Sunday. The company will construct a building in Hengqin at which its members can establish headquarters in the future.
On behalf of the municipal CPC Committee and government, Mayor He Ningka showed his appreciation for Guangdong Hakka Chamber of Commerce’s support of Zhuhai’s economic construction. He called upon Hengqin New Area and all departments concerned to create favourable conditions and provide high-quality services for its development in Zhuhai.
Board chairman Wen Chunqing said Hakka business members feel proud to invest in Hengqin and are confident about their prospects.
Hengqin New Area Administrative Director Niu Jing signed the agreement with company president Ye Yuanxi. Li Jia, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Provincial Committee and secretary of the Municipal CPC Committee, was at the signing ceremony.
Zhuhai Port shipping strong
CARGO throughput at Zhuhai Port dipped by 0.95 percent to 34.97 million tonnes in the first half of the year, ranking next only to Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Zhanjiang. Nevertheless, incoming cargo throughput grew by 23.28 percent to 15.3 million tonnes while outgoing cargo throughput was down by 32.76 percent to 2.22 million tonnes due to a dramatic decline of petrochemicals such as oil products, LNG and chemical raw materials. In the meantime, some 404,600teu were handled at Zhuhai Port, an increase of 1.3 percent, ranking next to Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Zhongshan and Shantou.
Statistics show that 86,000 tonnes of containers were handled at Gaolan Port, a year-on-year growth of 46 percent. Moreover, except for Hongwan -- Doumen, Jiuzhou and Wanshan ports all reported considerable drop in cargo throughput.
The Hai Lan Zhong Gu 6, a full container ship with carrying capacity of nearly 30,000 tonnes under Shanghai Zhonggu Xinliang Shipping co ltd, debuted at the Zhuhai International Container Terminal Gaolan Port last Sunday, signalling that Zhuhai Port has moved a step towards becoming a South China hub transit port for containers now that at least 90 percent of the containers are tranships from the Xijiang River.
Zhuhai Port Group has opened the Zhuhai-Ningbo container liner route and three lighter branches to Humen, Yunfu and Zhaoqing since beginning of this year. A shipping network of 14 lighter routes covering the Xijiang River basin has been formed.
Branded products popular
EIGHT local businesses including Gree Electric Appliances inc, Mingjiang Handicrafts co ltd and Evergreen Tree Food co ltd took part in the four-day 2012 Guangdong-Macao Branded Products Fair (2012 GMBPF) which opened Thursday at the Macao Fisherman’s Wharf Convention & Exhibition Centre.
Initiated in 2009, the fair is jointly organized by the Macao Trade & Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) and the Department of Foreign Trade & Economic Cooperation of Guangdong Province, and coordinated by the Macao Fair & Trade Association.
The fair takes up 6,000sqm and combines trade, cultural exchange, shopping and entertainment into one economic and trade event. It is a major venue to deepen exchange and cooperation and to explore business opportunities between Guangdong and Macao, according to the organiser.
The number of visitors reached 110,000 with sales revenue of 39.74 million patacas last year. Zhuhai’s products, including air conditioners, bags and suitcases, sunflower seed and olive oil, were most popular with visitors.
Based on the success of the past three years, the 2012 fair will promote closer cooperation and liaisons between Guangdong and Macao, further explore markets and enhance businesses. Branded products of Guangdong province could make use of the Macao business and trade platform to enter Portuguese-speaking markets for more business opportunities, the organiser declared.
Zhuhai has taken measures to provide finances to help local businesses develop domestic and international markets by arranging them to take part in such events, according to a spokesperson from the municipal Science, Technology, Industry, Trade & Information Technology Bureau.
Hengqin GDP soars
HENGQIN New Area is expected to have GDP of 601 million yuan ($94.29 million) in the first half of the year, a rise of 93.5 percent over last year. Its investment in fixed assets topped the city by amounting to 8.76 billion yuan ($1.37 billion).
The number of registered businesses was 897 by the end of June, 184 of which were registered in the first half of the year. Financial revenue is to reach 190 million yuan ($29.8 million), a year-on-year increase of 37.6 percent. At the same time, actually utilised foreign capital rose by 71.3 percent to $56.14 million, and actually utilised domestic capital increased by 13.9 percent to 1.8 billion yuan ($282 million).
-Zhuhai Daily
