The Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin has unveiled upgraded measures to enhance financial support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), introducing significant expansions to subsidy coverage and cross-regional financing provisions.
The newly revised measures, issued by the cooperation zone’s Financial Development Bureau, intensify efforts to alleviate ongoing challenges such as limited access to financing and high credit costs, reinforcing the policy commitment to support the real economy.
Scheduled to take effect on September 1, 2025, and valid through December 31, 2029, the policy offers proportional subsidies across five key areas: loan interest discounts, insurance premium support, financing guarantee fee reductions, financial leasing incentives, and factoring cost assistance. A tiered support system is introduced to reward innovation and specialization, with high-tech enterprises and nationally recognized “Little Giant” SMEs—known for their niche expertise and cutting-edge technologies—eligible for elevated subsidy standards. This approach not only addresses immediate operational needs but also encourages longer-term industrial upgrading.
A standout feature of the revised measures is the enhanced support for Macao-integrated financial activities. Macao-funded enterprises established within the cooperation zone will benefit from preferred terms, while loans and leasing facilities obtained from Macao-based financial institutions will now qualify for the same subsidies as those obtained within the cooperation zone. This removal of jurisdictional barriers aims to stimulate Macao investment in the cooperation zone and foster deeper financial alignment between the two regions.
Furthermore, the policy extends export credit insurance subsidies to include Macao-affiliated companies, allowing the cooperation zone's SMEs to claim support when insuring trade activities conducted through their Macao partners. This expansion provides crucial risk mitigation for Macao trading firms seeking to explore international markets and reflects the cooperation zone’s strategic role as a two-way service platform.
Activities occurring on or after January 1, 2025, may be submitted for support following the release of annual implementation guidelines. The measures underscore the cooperation zone’s evolving profile as a testing ground for integrated cross-regional financial services and its sustained drive to build a progressive ecosystem for SME growth.
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