Guinea-Bissau hopes to become a “platform” that would help companies from China and Portuguese-speaking Countries to enter the West African market, said Guinean Secretary of State for Planning and Regional Integration, Degol Mendes.

Mr Mendes made his remarks on Saturday in Macao. He was visiting the territory to take part in the 20th Macao International Trade and Investment Fair, which ended on Sunday.

The Guinean Secretary of State told reporters that the African nation is planning to host a business meeting next year that would gather participants from China, Portuguese-speaking Countries and the Economic Community of West African States. About 100 Chinese companies have already confirmed that they will attend the event, he added.

“We hope the visit from Chinese companies [to Guinea-Bissau] in 2016 will contribute to a significant increase of the Chinese investment,” Mr Mendes said, quoted by Portuguese news agency Lusa.

Interest from Chinese companies in Guinea-Bissau’s market has been growing in the last few years. The number of Chinese-backed companies in the African nation has increased from 10 in 2013 to 56 in 2015, according to data provided to reporters.