The Pearl River Delta : a world workshop

The Pearl River Delta (PRD) is a complex of deltas consisting of the West River Delta, the North River Delta and the East River Delta in Guang-dong Province, China. The PRD is adjacent to Hong Kong and Macau, covers over 110,000 square kilometers and includes 14 countries. As shown in Figure 2.1, the PRD is located at the mouth of the Pearl River. Partly due to its strategic location, the PRD has become the most rapidly growing economic region in the world since the beginning of China's economic reforms in 1979. In October 1994, the Guangdong provincial government formally proposed to establish the PRD Economic Zone (PRDEZ), aiming to modernize the area. In this chapter, we take a close look at this region. We start with a brief description of the recent history of the PRD. We then analyze the economic development of this region over the past 20 years. Finally, we argue that this region has become the world's workshop for some products.