Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge: Faster commute bodes well for exhibition industry

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03:07

Like New York City and Tokyo, Hong Kong is where much of the world does business. It hosts many conventions and expos, but none very large in scale. Experts see this as a weakness, but the new bridge could help close the gap. CGTN's He Weiwei explains.

Hong Kong, a financial mecca, commerce hub and vacation destination. Millions flock there every year, many of them for business and conventions. According to official data, Hong Kong hosted 135 exhibitions and conventions in 2017; an average of one every three days. But as experts will tell you, these densely-populated islands leave little room for bigger events.

PROF. ZHANG GUANGNAN INST. OF GUANGDONG, HONG KONG & MACAO DEV'T STUDIES SUN YAT-SEN UNIVERSITY "Hong Kong is great for meetings and small conventions, but for large exhibitions in aviation or manufacturing, which need more space, it is too small."

It's reported that Hong Kong declines at least 40 expo applications every year, due to a lack of venues. But Zhang says there's a solution.

PROF. ZHANG GUANGNAN INST. OF GUANGDONG, HONG KONG & MACAO DEV'T STUDIES SUN YAT-SEN UNIVERSITY "There's a new pattern called 'one fair, multiple venues'. It means an exhibition can be held in separate cities. For example, companies could hold panels and meetings in Hong Kong or Macao, and exhibitions in mainland cities like Zhuhai."

What makes the pattern feasible, is the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge.

HE WEIWEI ZHUHAI "This is the entrance in Zhuhai to the bridge, starting from here, half an hour later you'll reach HK International Airport. And on the other side, you can also cross the border check points right behind me and get to Macao very soon."

The Zhuhai International Convention & Exhibition Center has signed collaboration agreements with Hong Kong's Asia World-Expo, aiming to group the two parties into one stronger cluster to better compete in the international market.

FU RUI, GENERAL MANAGER ZHUHAI INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION & EXHIBITION CENTER "We have world-class venues and facilities, which are our advantage. The super bridge connects Zhuhai, Macao and Hong Kong. That enables us to share clients and venues, therefore to form a more competitive alliance."

Now in its fifth year, the center in Zhuhai has hosted over 2000 fairs. The city is also a rising innovation hub in southern China, and many enterprises now make Zhuhai their starting point to explore overseas markets.

PENG JINSHAN, BUSINESS MANAGER ZHUHAI GREE INTELLIGENT EQUIPMENT CO., LTD. "As a company based in Zhuhai, we exhibit a lot on the Chinese mainland. And we hope to do more of the same in Hong Kong and elsewhere to expand our fame worldwide."

Experts say business opportunities will go beyond the three ends of the bridge, and cover more cities across the Guangdong--Hong Kong--Macao Greater Bay Area. He Weiwei, CGTN, ZHUHAI.