In Chaozhou City, Guangdong Province, the newly planned Shenchao Industrial Cooperation Park is emerging as a fertile ground for economic synergy. Serving as the primary platform and front line for collaboration between Shenzhen and Chaozhou, the park combines a "Shenzhen-like" business environment and government services with Chaozhou's advantages in cost-effectiveness, land availability, and other resources. This setup promotes the free flow and efficient allocation of resources, strengthening regional economic resilience and fostering mutual benefits between the two cities.

Since 2023, following directives from Guangdong's provincial government, Shenzhen and Chaozhou have established a partnership for targeted assistance and collaboration. Shenzhen has deployed officials to Chaozhou to advance this cooperative effort.

By the end of 2024, the park had attracted 34 operational enterprises. Fixed asset investments in the park reached 2.33 billion in the first three quarters of 2024, a 113.95% increase year-on-year, while industrial value added from large-scale enterprises totaled ￥2.074 billion, up 17.68% from the previous year.

Building a Collaborative Industrial Ecosystem

According to Cai Fan, Director of the Shenchao Cooperation Command and a Chaozhou government party member, the park focuses on integrating the industrial strengths and resources of Shenzhen and Chaozhou.

Guided by the principles of "strengthening, extending, and supplementing industrial chains," the park aligns Chaozhou's modern industrial planning with Shenzhen's cluster development needs. It has attracted leading enterprises in industries such as new materials, equipment manufacturing, medical devices, and modern food production, fostering upstream and downstream collaborations.

However, Cai acknowledged challenges in bridging the distinct industrial bases of the two cities—Shenzhen's high-tech dominance and Chaozhou's traditional manufacturing focus. To address this, the park emphasizes long-term strategies to narrow industrial gaps and create a resilient ecosystem.

Companies establish R&D headquarters in Shenzhen while setting up manufacturing, expansion, and auxiliary projects in Chaozhou, achieving complementary and coordinated development.

Strategic Services to Empower Enterprises

The park delivers comprehensive "one-stop" services, from project initiation to implementation, addressing the pressing needs of enterprises for new technologies, products, and market opportunities. By leveraging resources from both Shenzhen and Chaozhou, the park helps businesses identify scenarios, expand channels, and seize market opportunities. Companies benefit from Chaozhou's lower costs and land availability, while enjoying Shenzhen-level administrative standards, service efficiency, and an innovation-friendly environment.

To alleviate financial challenges for enterprises, the park has introduced layered support policies, including measures to reduce costs for factory rentals, electricity, and gas. Additionally, the 5-billion-yuan Guangdong Shenchao Collaborative Industrial Investment Fund was established in 2024 to provide tailored financing solutions, combining sub-funds and direct investments.

Revitalizing Local Industries

Chaozhou has also collaborated with Shenzhen’s Luohu District to create "Chuangxiangdao," a cross-regional innovation platform. This "reverse enclave" model facilitates R&D, talent acquisition, and industrial integration. Traditional industries like ceramics, food, and clothing, along with emerging sectors such as biomedicine, new materials, and renewable energy, have established R&D centers at the platform, leveraging Luohu’s resources in technology and talent to overcome limitations in industrial design, innovation, and incubation.

Driving Sustainable Growth

"Promoting coordinated regional development is key to optimizing industrial layouts, fostering innovation, and ensuring efficient resource allocation," Cai emphasized. The park is committed to solving immediate challenges while setting long-term expectations, leveraging Chaozhou’s unique strengths to create a "Shenzhen-like" institutional environment and drive high-quality development.