On the fifth anniversary of the Qianhai Plan, the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone has reported remarkable growth, with regional GDP rising from 175.57 billion yuan in 2021 to 331.81 billion yuan, and total imports and exports growing from 378.05 billion yuan to 757.43 billion yuan, according to the Authority of Qianhai. This nearly doubling of key economic indicators underscores the zone's success in institutional opening-up and cross-border cooperation.
The expansion, which began in 2021, has been marked by significant institutional innovation. Qianhai has introduced 111 institutional innovation outcomes that have been replicated and promoted nationwide. Notably, the General Administration of Customs implemented two rounds of dedicated support policies, including a pioneering customs model with 'direct access at the first line and smart connected supervision,' which streamlines customs declarations by reducing required items from dozens to just over ten. These reforms have facilitated trade and enhanced efficiency in the zone.
Shenzhen-Hong Kong cooperation has also deepened, with the number of Hong Kong-funded enterprises growing from over 8,000 in 2021 to more than 11,000 today. Technology commercialization platforms established by five Hong Kong universities have begun operations in Qianhai, incubating 193 projects. Gary Wong Chi-him, a Hong Kong resident working at the Qianhai Authority, noted the growing influx of Hong Kong people, saying, 'Qianhai has created an environment where Hong Kong and Shenzhen are deeply intertwined.' This sentiment is echoed by Jacqueline Ho, CEO of Synovate Technologies, a Hong Kong-funded sci-tech company, who highlighted Qianhai's support in connecting with partners like Siemens and helping the company establish a foothold in the hard-tech sector. Synovate has obtained around 50 independent intellectual property rights and was named to the Forbes China Emerging Tech T30&30 Selection this year.
The zone is also a hub for AI innovation, home to 532 key AI enterprises, including SmartMore Information Technology, Pony.ai, and Fengyi Technology. Lin Zhifeng, General Manager of China (Qianhai) Internet Exchange, pointed to the establishment of the China Center for Promoting APEC Data Cross-Border Flow Cooperation as a sign of Qianhai's growing international reach. The center, the only national-level Internet exchange in South China, has served more than 270 enterprises. Its Shenzhen-Hong Kong Cross-Boundary Data Validation Platform has helped mainland SMEs secure over HK$260 million in financing in Hong Kong, and its cross-border data channel has benefited more than 300,000 Hong Kong residents by facilitating the transfer of medical records.
These developments reflect Qianhai's strategy of turning institutional differences into opportunities and aligning rules with international standards. As the zone celebrates five years of expansion, its progress demonstrates a clear path toward institutional opening-up, with 'Qianhai, Pulse with the World' becoming a tangible reality.
