Hong Kong: Towngas, Sinopec push ahead with green initiatives

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has taken another big step forward in its green energy transition by forming a strategic partnership with key fuel suppliers to support the nation’s dual carbon strategy and drive the SAR’s sustainable development.

According to a memorandum of understanding signed on Feb 4, Hong Kong and China Gas Co will collaborate with Sinopec (Hong Kong) and Sinopec Star Co in producing hydrogen, green methanol and sustainable aviation fuel.

Given Hong Kong’s ample hydrogen supply, the partnership will actively prioritize locally-produced hydrogen at competitive prices and cover technology development, business promotion and infrastructure building.

Macao: TCM lab with Heilongjiang to boost certification

Teaming up with Heilongjiang — a major Chinese mainland province known for its traditional Chinese medicine resources — Macao has established a new university laboratory to promote quality certification and product innovation in TCM.

Co-founded by the University of Macau and the Heilongjiang Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the facility was unveiled on Feb 4.

It will focus on setting quality standards for Chinese herbal medicines and proprietary Chinese medicines, developing key testing technologies and high-value-added products, and exploring international certification pathways.

Guangzhou: City launches insurance for humanoid robots

Guangdong province has launched its first exclusive insurance for embodied intelligent robots to address concerns among businesses and factories about the use of these advanced technological products.

The insurance is a customized risk protection plan offered by the Guangzhou branch of PICC Property and Casualty Co for “little giant” enterprise, Guangzhou Ligong Industrial Co.  

It provides insurance coverage for losses arising from the robots themselves, as well as third-party liability, marking a breakthrough for the province in integrating technology insurance with emerging industries.

Shenzhen: Boomtown’s list of public enterprises hits 600

The number of publicly-listed companies in Shenzhen has climbed to 600 after medical services chain Distinct Healthcare and Shenzhen Han’s CNC Technology Co — a provider of manufacturing equipment services — debuted on the Hong Kong stock exchange on Feb 6.

The combined market value of listed Shenzhen-based firms had exceeded 19 trillion yuan ($2.74 trillion) last month, ranking second among major mainland cities.

In the first three quarters of 2025, listed companies in Shenzhen reported revenues of 5.2 trillion yuan — a 7.36-percent year-on-year increase that outpaced the national average.

Zhuhai: Joint virtual laboratory with HK, Macao off the ground

Zhuhai has launched the first batch of equipment for a joint virtual laboratory developed with universities in Hong Kong and Macao, local investment authorities said on Feb 6.

The facility combines the resources of 16 universities and research institutes from the two special administrative regions and the Chinese mainland, along with public service platforms and innovation centers. It currently houses nearly 2,000 high-end instruments with a combined value of more than 100 million yuan, supporting industries like semiconductors, biomedicine and new energy.

Foshan: Trade ties with Africa set to scale new heights

Foshan hosted an Africa-focused supply-demand matchmaking event on Feb 5 to enhance African countries’ understanding of Guangdong province’s strengths in kitchenware brands and deepen trade cooperation.

Export bases and leading firms from Foshan and neighboring cities pitched products to buyers and diplomats from 10 African countries, including Angola, Senegal and Tanzania. The city’s exports to the African continent reached 24.9 billion yuan in 2025 — up 15.5 percent from a year earlier. Foshan has launched 32 direct investment projects in Africa as of 2025, with pledged investments totaling $760 million.

Huizhou: Boluo — Guangdong’s first 100-billion-yuan county

Huizhou’s Boluo has become the first county in Guangdong province to surpass 100 billion yuan in gross domestic product, according to official data released on Feb 2. The county’s GDP reached 100.5 billion yuan in 2025 — up 5.5 percent from a year earlier.

Manufacturing remains Boluo’s economic backbone. Large-scale industrial output has grown at an average annual rate of 10.2 percent in the past five years, supporting eight industrial clusters, each exceeding 10 billion yuan in value. The next-generation electronic information sector alone generated more than 77 billion yuan in output.

Dongguan: One person companies get incubation community

Dongguan’s first incubation platform for one person companies (OPC), focusing on artificial intelligence, opened at the industrial city’s Songshan Lake innovation hub on Feb 6.

To help Dongguan seize opportunities in AI and promote high-quality development, the OPC community will integrate key production elements and accelerate AI’s application in manufacturing scenarios.

The community has agreed on a strategic partnership with 10 scientific and innovation organizations in Dongguan and nearby cities, including the City University of Hong Kong (Dongguan) and the National High-Tech Industrial Innovation Center, Shenzhen.

Zhongshan: Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link sightseeing cruise ready

Zhongshan will open its first sightseeing cruise route along the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link — a mega cross-sea passage — on Saturday, tapping growing tourism demand in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

The 100-minute cruise will start from Zhongshan passenger port and take in major infrastructure landmarks, including the western artificial island, a crucial hub for the bridge-tunnel transition of the link, and Nansha Gymnasium. The service will run twice daily, with promotional fares offered for the first three months.

Zhongshan is also set to start a direct sea route to Guishan Island — a popular resort destination located between Zhuhai and Hong Kong.

Jiangmen: New energy battery base nears trial production

Four production buildings under the second phase of new energy company CALB’s power battery and energy storage project in Jiangmen have been completed, according to an official announcement on Feb 5. Trial production will begin in the first quarter of this year.

The company’s second phase project will add 35 gigawatt-hours of annual capacity, based on its seven production lines that focus on producing batteries for emerging sectors, including the low-altitude economy, robotics and electric vessels.

In full operation, the two-phase project, with total investment of 25.5 billion yuan, will have an annual capacity of 70 gigawatt hours, making it the largest new-energy power battery manufacturing base in Guangdong province.

Zhaoqing: City sees 17% rise in trade value with APEC economies

Zhaoqing recorded an impressive trade performance with other Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation economies last year, with total value reaching 30.06 billion yuan — a 17 percent year-on-year increase — according to the latest customs data.

The value of exports amounted to 22.1 billion yuan — up 17.4 percent — while imports hit 7.96 billion yuan, representing a year-on-year growth of 15.7 percent.

The United States, Japan and Hong Kong were Zhaoqing’s top three trading partners among other APEC economies last year. Together, they accounted for 40 percent of Zhaoqing’s total trade with APEC economies.