PR96755

SHENZHEN, China, June 28, 2022 /Xinhua=KYODO JBN/--

On June 27, "2022 Qianhai Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao-Taiwan Youth Innovation and

Entrepreneurship Competition" was officially kicked off, marking the start of

series of activities "Shenzhen-Hong Kong Cooperation to Create the Future" to

celebrate the 25th anniversary of the return of Hong Kong to the motherland,

according to Authority of Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry

Cooperation Zone.

For many ambitious young people, this promises more opportunities and a better

start. Sunny Zhou, a young lady from Guangdong, is director of a Macao-funded

company. Her project won the silver medal in the finals of the competition last

year. "The contest has provided us an opportunity to meet many industry experts

and entrepreneurial partners from different places, and has brought us new

ideas for entrepreneurship," said Sunny Zhou.

To provide greater support to participants, this year's competition is fully

upgraded. The winning projects can directly advance to the Industry Finals of

China (Shenzhen) Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition. Professional

mentors are introduced to provide one-on-one counseling. Besides, the winners

can be given priority to settle in Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Youth Innovation

and Entrepreneur Hub (QSHKYIEH) and enjoy relevant preferential policies. The

event will also carry out activities such as Creator Camp, Entrepreneurial

Counseling Sessions and Investment Matchmaking Sessions to build a good

platform for the youth to communicate, cooperate and advance. The competition

has set four sub-regions, with a total prize of more than CNY7 million.

The event has been held for six consecutive years since 2016, taking in

altogether about 6,000 entries, including nearly 3,000 from Hong Kong, Macao

and other places. By promoting the transformation of relevant scientific and

technological achievements, Qianhai has become a "dream-big place" for many

youths.

Lee Jee Bong from Hong Kong, who has once taken part in the contest, is one of

such entrepreneurs in Qianhai. Last year, the project of his company was

awarded the silver prize in the Enterprise Growth Category of the competition

finals. "The technical requirements of our product are high, and we need plenty

of professional talents. Qianhai has policies and services appealing to

talents, so excellent heads and minds gather. It is easy to get access to the

Greater Bay Area and the broader domestic market. That's why we are based

here," said Lee Jee Bong.

"QSHKYIEH is where our dream started and will be the place where we can fulfill

our dream," said Lee Jee Bong. The QSHKYIEH he mentioned is well-renowned in

Hong Kong's entrepreneurial youth circle and considered by many Hong Kongers as

the first choice to start a business. Here, a whole chain of innovation and

entrepreneurship ecosystem has been established with "six chains in one":

innovative chain, industrial chain, capital chain, policy chain, information

chain and talent chain, and a large number of young entrepreneurial teams from

Hong Kong have concentrated here. By the end of May, 2022, QSHKYIEH has

incubated a total of 591 entrepreneurial teams. Recently, Qianhai continues to

advance the construction of various areas for the QSHKYIEH to provide more

space for young entrepreneurial people; meanwhile, a series of support measures

such as issuing special support funds for Hong Kong and Macao youth,

implementing 15% corporate income tax, foreign investment incentives, office

rent subsidies, etc. to shore up youth entrepreneurship.

At the launching ceremony of the competition, Qianhai released nine practical

benefits for Hong Kongers, covering housing, entrepreneurship, services,

employment, platform, scientific innovation, finance, settlement, livelihood,

etc., aiming to provide comprehensive support for Hong Kongers and Hong Kong

enterprises to develop in Qianhai, and to provide facilitations for youths to

do business in Shenzhen.

"Qianhai is the bridgehead of Hong Kong-Shenzhen cooperation and the first stop

for Hong Kong youth to develop in the mainland. I hope more Hong Kong youth can

pursue their dreams and fulfill them in Qianhai and the Greater Bay Area," said

Kenneth Fok Kai-kong, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese

People's Political Consultative Conference and a member of the Hong Kong

Legislative Council, at the launch ceremony.

Source: Authority of Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry

Cooperation Zone