LRT to be extended into Hengqin Island

The Light Rapid Transit (LRT) system currently under construction in Taipa will be extended into Hengqin Island, a plan that was confirmed yesterday by the Director-General of the Administrative Committee of Hengqin New Area, Niu Jing. Construction works are due to begin by the end of this year.
Speaking at a seminar on the recent development of the neighboring island, he explained that there would soon be a connection between the transportation systems of the two regions, since “Macau and Zhuhai have reached an agreement.”
“The LRT may go from Taipa, passing through the underwater tunnel,  [to] reach the Hengqin Island, and then there will be a connection made with the Zhuhai metro. It has been decided.”
Niu Jing added that the Macau government would support the construction works, which will hopefully be underway by the end of this year.
Furthermore, a working group has been put together in order to discuss and plan this LRT extension, under the coordination of the Public Works department.
Over the course of the Zhuhai-Macau Cooperation Achievements Exhibition and Hengqin New Area Policies Seminar, held yesterday at Macau Tower, it became clear that Macau is set to play a greater role in Hengqin.
Niu Jing has made the assurance that, while developing Hengqin, priority will be given to Macau and its projects. In addition, facilitating the provision of residency permits for prospective employees from Macau is on the agenda. A fund to support the industrial development of Macau’s projects in Hengqin will also be created.
“Hengqin Island has become a privileged area for investment. There is a principle of giving priority to Macau in terms of entrepreneurship (…),” he guaranteed, adding that Macau’s role and presence in Hengqin shall be enhanced in the near future.
Last April, 33 Macau-
backed projects were recommended to Hengqin authorities for the Guangdong-Macau Cooperation Industrial Park, which spans 4.5 square kilometers. Yesterday, seven of these projects were officiated. Combining for an area of 293.3 square meters, the seven projects represent a total investment of around RMB719 million.
Moreover, Hengqin has signed other contracts granting parcels of land to accommodate 48 industrial projects. In his speech, Niu Jing also recalled that tax benefits await companies interested in settling in Hengqin. “Hengqin is a pioneer case (…) enterprises can benefit from tax exemption, which could be determinant for reducing their costs,” he stressed.
Yesterday’s seminar also served as a means of showing how Hengqin has developed over the last year. Between January and June, Hengqin’s GDP reached RMB2.3 billion, representing a 72 percent year-on-year increase. Use of foreign investment reached USD163 million, having grown by 206 percent in the last year.
The mayor of the city of Zhuhai, Mr He Ningka, stressed that Hengqin Island can play an important role in diversifying Macau’s economy. In his opinion, the Hengqin New Area has led Macau and Zhuhai to enter a new phase of development, which will in due course benefit both parties.