IT sector potential presents great opportunities for the young generation in the area, said Hong Kong entrepreneur Allan Zeman, chairman of Lan Kwai Fong Group.

However Zeman said encouraging young people to be more actively involved with the area's development is the biggest challenge. "Government in general gives a plan and people are slow to react. But once a few people who could see the future are willing to explore the area, they will be held up as examples and usher a whole wave of young people into the region."

He recalled when he was talking with local officials and entrepreneurs of Shenzhen and Shanghai several decades ago that he could not imagine their vision for these cities' future, but he has witnessed the tremendous changes of the two boomtowns.

He said this time he saw the vision of the Greater Bay Area, and urged young people to keep an open mind and look at things not for what they are but what they could be.

The Macao forum is the latest among a series of Vision China events since it was launched in January 2018. The events, which serve as a bridge for communication between China and the rest of the world, feature well-known Chinese and overseas opinion leaders discussing Chinese topics of international significance.