China's Pearl River Delta Outlines Development Plan

Sept. 28, 2009
The Greater Pearl River Delta Business Council (GPRDBC) released a study report in response to the Outline of the Plan for the Reform and Development of the Pearl River Delta (2008-2020)

The Greater Pearl River Delta Business Council (GPRDBC) released a study report in response to the Outline of the Plan for the Reform and Development of the Pearl River Delta (2008-2020).

The GPRDBC set up an ad hoc group in April 2009 with an aim to leveraging the opportunities arising from the Outline and making pragmatic recommendations in response to the Outline. On the basis of the win-win principle between Hong Kong and Guangdong, the ad hoc group conducted studies, meetings and consultation with the focus on industries and livelihood matters in the past six months.

The study report covers two major areas - industries and livelihood matters, grouped into seven key headings with 47 strategic suggestions spanning over 14 topics. The 14 topics are professional services (legal, finance, accounting, maritime and logistics, insurance), SME, innovation technology, culture and creativity, and testing and certification, healthcare services, environmental protection, education, transport, and social services.

The study report sets out the following seven key headings:

1. Coordinating hard and soft infrastructure and facilitating the four flows (information, passenger, logistics and capital flows);

2. New systems and common standards;

3. Streamlining procedures and lowering entry threshold;

4. Seeking sustainable development and forming a quality living area;

5. Integrating social service resources and facilitating cross-border living;

6. Furthering collaboration in education and technology co-operation and optimizing overall workforce quality;

7. Enhancing financial infrastructure and guarding against financial risks.

Details of the 47 suggestions under the above seven key headings can be found in the report and the appendices. The appendices are available at: http://www.cmab.gov.hk/en/issues/council.htm