Luohu sets sights on SZ-HK integrated development

Luohu District has designated an area of 9.5 square kilometers near Luohu Checkpoint to build the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Business and Trade Development Area.

At the 2022 Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Business and Trade Upgrading and Development Exchange Meeting held in Luohu District recently, Xia Dong, deputy head of the district government, said the area will promote in-depth cooperation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong in business and trade, cross-border e-commerce, professional services, fashion and tourism.

A computer-generated image of the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Business and Trade Development Area. Shenzhen Special Zone Daily

The Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Business and Trade Development Area will provide a new driving force for building Luohu into a consumption hub and contribute to Luohu’s efforts to construct a new pattern for Shenzhen and Hong Kong’s in-depth cooperation and development, and promote exchanges of key elements such as capital, technologies, talents and information, according to Xia.

In October last year, Luohu unveiled its implementation plan for speeding up the construction of the Shenzhen-Hong Kong In-depth Integration Development Area. The plan features 45 measures in six aspects.

In terms of infrastructure connectivity, Luohu will upgrade Luohu Checkpoint, and speed up shifting the function of Wenjindu Checkpoint as checkpoint for transportation of fresh produce and livestock.

In terms of talent exchanges, the district will build an innovation and entrepreneurship base near Luohu Checkpoint and introduce training programs for the construction of the Northern Metropolis and work out special policies for the development of Hong Kong talents. The district will pilot upgrading existing industrial parks and help more Hong Kong jewelry enterprises to enter the mainland market.

In terms of public service integration, the district will build a household affairs coordination center and support private schools to open more classes for Hong Kong children.

Luohu is one of the core areas of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and a gateway connecting Shenzhen and Hong Kong.

“Luohu District is maximizing its advantages and serving Hong Kong enterprises most sincerely, enabling Hong Kong people to come, stay and integrate into life in the district,” said Fan Defan, head of the Luohu District Government.

Luohu is home to 40,000 Hong Kong people, which take up 20% of the total number of Hong Kong residents in Shenzhen. It has three checkpoints with Hong Kong, which handled 82 million cross-border trips in 2019, accounting for one-third of Shenzhen’s total. The district also houses 6,500 Hong Kong-funded enterprises.

The exchange meeting was jointly held by the Leading Group Office for Promoting the Construction of GBA, Shenzhen Municipal Development and Reform Commission and Luohu District Government.