Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) and the Dongguan Songshan Lake High-Tech Industrial Development Zone signed an agreement on Thursday to strengthen collaboration and establish a regular cooperation mechanism to support enterprises in the high-tech zone in expanding globally via Hong Kong.

The memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed at InvestHK’s head office by Director-General of Investment Promotion Alpha Lau Hai-suen, and Vice Mayor of the Dongguan Municipal People’s Government and Secretary of the Party Working Committee of Songshan Lake High-Tech Zone Chen Qingsong.

Representatives from both sides also had in-depth exchanges to further promote the deep integration of scientific research and industry between the two cities.

Songshan Lake High-Tech Zone is a core innovation engine within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Led by Huawei, the zone has developed a smart terminal industrial cluster valued at over RMB100 billion.

Besides the development of next-generation information technology and intelligent connected vehicle industries, the zone also focuses on strategic emerging industries such as robotics and intelligent equipment manufacturing, semiconductors and integrated circuits, biomedicine and health, and new materials and new energy.

InvestHK – the government department responsible for foreign direct investment – will provide one-stop support for enterprises from Songshan Lake High-Tech Zone to leverage Hong Kong as a gateway to global markets, according to InvestHK.

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This includes facilitating access to international capital markets, matching them with world-class professional service partners, and offering support in office site selection, research and development implementation, and talent acquisition.

“As one of the national-level high-tech industrial development zones, Songshan Lake High-Tech Zone has not only developed numerous cutting-edge technologies and nurtured countless innovative talent but also serves as a crucial platform for promoting the transformation of scientific achievements and industrial upgrading,” said Lau.

InvestHK believes that the cooperation will create a synergy effect from Hong Kong’s international advantages and the innovative edge of Songshan Lake High-Tech Zone, helping enterprises and talent from the zone to shine on the global stage, she added.

Pointing out that Dongguan and Hong Kong have a long history of cooperation, Chen said under the guidance of the national development strategy for the GBA, the two cities are accelerating their collaborative development.

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“This MOU signing will further stimulate the synergy effects of resource sharing and complementary advantages, deepen market connectivity, help more high-quality enterprises expand overseas, and jointly explore new opportunities for innovative cooperation," he added.

Prior to the signing ceremony, Lau attended the listing ceremony of a renowned pharmaceutical company, Sunshine Lake Pharma, from the high-tech zone on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

The listing highlighted the pathway for Chinese mainland enterprises to access international markets through Hong Kong’s capital markets.

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Since its establishment in 2000, InvestHK has assisted over 7,700 enterprises from the mainland and around the world in setting up or expanding in Hong Kong, with more than 145 successfully listed on the city’s stock exchange.

On Wednesday, InvestHK's leadership team attended an unveiling ceremony marking the launch of the high-tech zone’s Songshan Lake Science City Hong Kong Operations Centre at the city’s InnoCentre.