Gansu luring HK, Macao businesses

Abundance of cultural and historical resources in province a key attraction

People from the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions are increasingly being attracted to Gansu due in part to the northwestern province's rich natural and cultural resources, according to political advisers of the province.

Chiu Tung-ping, founding president of the Hong Kong Gansu Association and a member of the Gansu provincial committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said Gansu has great potential in attracting investment from Hong Kong and Macao because of its improving business environment and abundant cultural and historical resources.

Chiu also runs a company that became the province's first Hong Kong-based enterprise to be given a green light to build a 300-megawatt new energy project in Gansu's Minqin county last August. It has since become the largest Hong Kong-funded company in the province.

"The initial 5-MW new energy project and the new 300-MW one, with an investment of more than 2 billion yuan ($286 million), are testaments to the province's huge potential," he said.

Chiu made the remarks at a panel meeting during the province's annual two sessions recently.

Meagan Ho Peng-peng, general manager of San Ou Iao Group, a Macao travel company, said Gansu is home to Dunhuang, a cultural asset with a history of thousands of years.

"It's more than just a tourist attraction," Ho said. "Visiting Dunhuang is a journey that encompasses both landscape and culture, where people can not only revel in the natural beauty but also connect with the deep-rooted history and culture."

On the business side, last year, more than 30 groups consisting of more than 200 business people from Hong Kong and Macao conducted inspection and research visits to over 50 counties and districts in Gansu, according to Sun Xuetao, a member of the Standing Committee of the Gansu Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China.

"Various cities and prefectures have signed 46 cooperation projects and agreements, plus 40 preliminary cooperation intentions, with entrepreneurs from Hong Kong and Macao and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, involving an investment of 24.3 billion yuan," said Sun, who is also director of the united front work department in the province. He added that the number of tourists from Hong Kong and Macao to Gansu is also growing steadily.

"Over the past year, all CPPCC members from Hong Kong and Macao have strengthened their awareness of fulfilling their duties and responsibilities to closely link Gansu's construction to the development of their companies," he said.