>transforming the region into an economic powerhouse (most of your electronics were probably manufactured there)

I'm in favour of infrastructure but I think the history of Shenzhen is more market capitalism made it an economic powerhouse and then the government cranked up the infrastructure. From the Wikipedia page

>in May 1980 the Central Committee designated Shenzhen as the first SEZ in China, which was promoted by then-paramount leader Deng Xiaoping as part of China's reform and opening-up. Its objective is to be an experimental ground for the practice of market capitalism within a community guided by the ideals of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

And then the capitalism experiment worked. It benefited a lot from being near Hong Kong where people had money and skills while Shenzhen provided cheap labour and a place where Chinese entrepreneurs could go and build stuff.

For sure. Being an SEZ put Shenzhen on the map. Infrastructure was an additional boost and raised the ceiling on their growth.

In the US we already have market capitalism so there’s not much to gain there. But infrastructure is lacking. That’s the key takeaway.