Macao’s mediating role becoming more evident

The Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, said today that Macao’s role as the mediator between China and Portuguese-speaking countries was becoming more evident, as reflected by the increase of companies setting up here. In his welcome speech at the Portuguese-speaking Countries Investment Environments and Policies Presentation held in Macao, Mr Ho pointed out that there had been an increase in the number of businesses from Portuguese-speaking countries set up in Macao this year. This showed that entrepreneurs from those countries valued the China market and approved of Macao’s role as the economic and trade platform, Mr Ho told the delegates, which included ministers from many Portuguese-speaking countries. The Chief Executive said that since the first “Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries” in 2003, the Permanent Secretariat for the forum had organised a series of events in accordance with the “Economic And Trade Cooperation Action Plan”, signed upon the closing of the forum, and had achieved significant results. “Macao has been exerting its advantage to carry out its mediating role in full swing,” said Mr Ho. He said the presentation would advance the understanding in Investment Environments and Policies in Portuguese-speaking Countries, and promotes the co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries. He said that the SAR Government was actively preparing for the Second “Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries”, which would be held in Macao next year, under the guidance and support of the Central Government. After the presentation, the ministers will go on to Xiamen for the 9th China International Fair for Investment and Trade”. During their stay in Xiamen, they will meet entrepreneurs from the Mainland and promote Investment Environments and Policies in Portuguese-speaking Countries.