Qianhai start-ups resume work and production

Writer: Chang Zhipeng  |  Editor: Holly Wang  |  From: Shenzhen Daily 

Start-up companies in Qianhai have all resumed work and production, thanks to a series of favorable policies such as office rent reductions rolled out by the Qianhai Cooperation Zone Authority.

GJS Robot, an entertainment robot research and production enterprise founded in 2015, has resumed 100 percent of its working capacity at the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Youth Innovation and Entrepreneur Hub (E-hub).

Staffers with GJS Robot work at their office at the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Youth Innovation and Entrepreneur Hub (E-hub).

Before resuming work, the company made detailed plans regarding body temperature screenings, office space disinfection and ventilation, and anti-epidemic supplies purchasing and the distribution of health materials and disinfectant to ensure the safety of its 70 employees.

Zhao Junjian, CEO of GJS Robot, said that the company originally told part of its staff to telecommute so as to avoid gathering in the office and to lower the risk of cross-infection. Epidemic prevention tips have also been given to the staff. In case of showing symptoms such as coughing or a fever, the company will pay close attention to the health condition of its staff members and give them necessary support for recovery.

Lonely Auto, a travel platform that provides boutique homestay hotel and resort hotel booking services in Guangdong, resumed work Feb. 17. Currently, the platform has about 100,000 registered members.

Staffers with Lonely Auto resume work.   

According to Chen Xu, founder of the company, the epidemic had a fatal impact on the tourism industry with many companies forced to shut down. “The office rent reduction offered by the authority has greatly alleviated our financial stress. As a start-up company, the relatively low labor costs have also helped us to survive this epidemic crisis,” said Chen.

As the domestic epidemic prevention and control work has achieved positive results and the local governments have introduced measures to boost consumption, the company has begun to receive orders. Chen believes that the domestic tourism industry is expected to revitalize during the Labor Day holiday and the summer vacation.

Founded in Qianhai in 2015, R-Guardian provides consumers with smart personal products such as luggage, handbags, wallets and backpacks.

Staffers with R-Guardian resume work.

Lau Pak-lam, co-founder of R-Guardian, said that the company resumed work Feb. 17, telling part of its staff to telecommute. Employees that work on-site were offered transportation subsidies and masks, and had to undergo body temperature checks two times a day. The office space was also disinfected twice a day. The company fully resumed on-site working March 1.

“In addition to the office rent reductions, Qianhai has also waived two months of talent housing rents for some of our Hong Kong employees, which is a huge help for us,” said Lau.

The E-hub is an entrepreneurship carrier for youngsters at home and abroad. By now, a total of 399 start-up teams, including 198 from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, have been incubated at the hub. Companies at the hub have been exempted from paying office rent, property management fees and air-conditioning fees worth 3 million yuan (US$0.42 million) for February and March.