Greater Bay Area

As a bridgehead of the Belt and Road Initiative, the Greater Bay Area (GBA) has access to China’s huge domestic market and serves as an important link to the ASEAN countries, fulfilling a unique role in the nation’s “dual circulation” strategy.

Our “Six Connects in the GBA” structure

In line with the national vision for the development of the GBA, we are dedicated to bringing our global network and rich experience in the Chinese market, integrating our talent pool and network in the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Macau. We have set up an EY Greater Bay Area Center of Excellence with the structure of “Six Connects in the GBA” to cultivate a flexible and connected GBA Business Development Task Force, to help our clients seize the opportunities in the GBA with our international perspective and local market expertise. 

The “Six Connects” are the six areas of interoperability based on the development potential of the GBA and supported by our suite of end to end professional services. In addition, our professionals in 11 cities* maintain knowledge and insights of latest government policies and plans, and systematically analyze the relevant regulations and rules for enterprises, so as to be the first to understand the latest development and measures of each GBA market for our clients.

*The 11 cities include four core cities (Hong Kong, Macau, Guangzhou and Shenzhen) and seven key node cities (Zhuhai, Foshan, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen and Zhaoqing).

The interconnection of the financial markets of the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Macau continues to deepen and open up to facilitate cross-border investments. The EY team will leverage its professional financial and risk management strengths to help meet the financing needs of enterprises in the GBA, mitigate cross-border financial risks through regulatory coordination and cooperation, manage and evaluate risks of innovative cross-border financial offerings and build diverse financial markets.

Technological advancement and digital transformation are the foundations that support various industry developments in the Greater Bay Area. It is becoming a necessity for organizations, not only technology companies, to transform and leverage on the tremendous value of big data to keep up with the developments in the GBA. The EY team will provide professional services in advising clients on technology transformations, cross-border information flow and regulatory compliance, to achieve information interoperability while ensuring data privacy and protection.

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated changes in the healthcare industry. Companies in the healthcare industry in the GBA cover a wide range of aspects, including vaccine development, bio-pharmaceutical and biotechnology research and development, telemedicine and innovative healthcare solutions. Many companies are in the early stage of development while longer term investment is required. With our deep expertise and extensive experience in life sciences and healthcare sectors, the EY GBA team can provide professional services in these potential markets.

Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau continue to advance in infrastructure interconnection, deepening the connectivity of transportation, ports, harbors and other infrastructure facilities. This provides a solid foundation for the flow of people, logistics and capital among these three locations. Also, the development of smart ports and the construction of the northern metropolitan area will bring business opportunities for more engineering companies, as well as investment opportunities for enterprises. The EY team will bring together professionals and resources in the GBA to help companies seize the opportunities in the ecosystem.

Talent is the pulse of an organization and GBA offers a diverse and unique talent proposition for organizations across different spectrum. EY teams believe that we will bring the breadth and depth in partnering with organization to develop the right talent strategy and build the key people pillars. Also, we are keen to walk with entrepreneurs in their different stages of development.

The GBA is positioned to be a green development demonstration area. In the Greater China Region, we established the ESG Committee to lead and promote sustainable development, offering professional services to the industry, including ESG management improvement, strategic planning, carbon project development, and report assurance. We also support our clients in achieving green development and carbon neutrality, and contributing to China’s carbon neutrality target by providing solutions including green finance, green technology and ESG.

Download the EY GBA booklet

EY Greater Bay Area Center of Excellence — Six Connects in the GBA


Our latest thinking

    Our latest thinking

    How do entrepreneurs in the Greater Bay Area achieve sustainable development for their families and businesses?

    Greater Bay Area (GBA) entrepreneurs’ main concern is how to achieve sustainable development in their family and business performances under an environment with constant emerging disruptions.

    Ivy Sun + 1

    Tax incentives in the Greater Bay Area and tax planning advice for family enterprises

    How to leverage opportunities created for tax planning in order to support the development of family enterprises and wealth succession?

    金融及货币通:融合发展路径与展望

    粤港澳大湾区是我国开放程度最高、经济活力最强的区域之一,大湾区的发展承载着新时代推动形成全面开放新格局的战略。只有进一步加大区域金融融合力度,构建一体化金融体系和基础设施,才能优化资源配置,提升效率,进一步增强大湾区内金融服务实体经济的能力,互补各地优势,创造粤港澳大湾区发展合力。

    ESG Connect: Current landscape and recommendations for ESG disclosure in the Greater Bay Area

    The topic of ESG is gaining momentum around the globe, and without exception in the Greater Bay Area.

    Infrastructure Connect: A joint new era for Hong Kong and Shenzhen

    Transport infrastructure plays a critical role in facilitating economic development. This article explores the Government’s transport infrastructure development vision and strategies in the Greater Bay Area (GBA), focusing on Hong Kong and Shenzhen.

    Health Connect: Overview of biomedical infrastructure and policies in 11 cities of the Greater Bay Area

    Promoting the development of the Biomedicine industry is of great significance to China’s realization of a strong technological power and a healthy China strategy.


      Featured press releases

      EY Synergize GBA Forum 2024; Unleashing new quality productive forces through value enhancement, integration, competition and breakthrough

      HONG KONG, 16 AUGUST 2024 — The EY Synergize GBA Forum 2024 (the Forum), organized by EY Greater China Region (EY) in collaboration with Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, Our Hong Kong Foundation (OHKF) and the Shenzhen Foundation for International Exchange and Cooperation (SFIEC), concluded today in Hong Kong.

      EY Greater Bay Area Center of Excellence officially activated in Qianhai of Shenzhen

      HONG KONG, 26 APRIL 2023 – The activation ceremony of the EY Greater Bay Area Center of Excellence in Qianhai of Shenzhen, marks a significant milestone in EY Greater China Region's (EY) strategic determination to further deepen its business penetration in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) and promote the development of Qianhai with innovation. Based on the “Six Connects in the GBA” structure, EY will continue to integrate its service advantages in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau, and utilize its international horizon and local market expertise to help enterprises seize the opportunities from the opening-up and economic development in the GBA. At the same time, EY will leverage Qianhai as an important hub to accelerate the development of technological innovation and R&D businesses, developing Qianhai as an open regional innovation community.

      EY and ULI co-launch GBA prop-tech white paper

      HONG KONG, 8 SEPTEMBER 2022 — Ernst & Young Transactions Limited (EY) and the Urban Land Institute (ULI) have co-developed the “GBA prop-tech white paper” (the white paper) around the theme of technology innovation and digital transformation of the real estate industry in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA). This white paper addresses the current status and future opportunities of the prop-tech industry in the GBA.

      EY Synergize GBA Forum inspires with thought leaders and distinguished speakers

      HONG KONG, 18 AUGUST 2022 — The EY Synergize GBA Forum 2022 (the Forum), organized by EY Greater China Region (EY) and co-organized by Invest Hong Kong – a department of the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) – and the Shenzhen Foundation for International Exchange and Cooperation (SFIEC), has concluded successfully today in Hong Kong and Shenzhen.

      EY joins forces with InvestHK and SFIEC to host Synergize GBA Forum 2022

      HONG KONG, 18 JULY 2022 — EY Greater China Region (EY) today announced that the second EY Synergize GBA Forum will be held on 18 August 2022 (Thursday). EY is honoured to have Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) – a department of the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) – and the Shenzhen Foundation for International Exchange and Cooperation (SFIEC) as co-organizers of the forum in Hong Kong and Shenzhen respectively.

        Contact us
        Like what you've seen? Get in touch to learn more.