The “3rd Young Entrepreneurs Forum of China and Portuguese-speaking Countries” took place at the Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel on October 18. The event was jointly organised by the Permanent Secretariat of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation Between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao); the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM); Macao Economic Services; the Macao Chamber of Commerce Youth Committee, the Association of Sino Portuguese Youth Entrepreneur, and the Sino Portuguese and Spanish Speaking Countries Federation.
A plaque unveiling ceremony for the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre for Young Entrepreneurs in China and Portuguese-speaking Countries was held on the same occasion.
Several guests officiated at the event: the Secretary for Economy and Finance of the Macao SAR, Mr Leong Vai Tac; the Deputy Director-General of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR, Mr Yao Jian; the Portuguese Secretary of State of Internationalisation, Mr Eurico Brilhante Dias; the Secretary-General of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, Ms Xu Yingzhen; Ambassadors to China of several Portuguese-speaking Countries ; the President of the Administrative Council of Parafuturo de Macau Investment and Development Ltd, Mr Tam Pak Yuen; the Director of Macao Economic Services, Mr Tai Kin Ip; and the President of IPIM, Mr Jackson Chang.
‘3rd Young Entrepreneurs’ Forum of China and Portuguese -speaking Countries’
This year’s Young Entrepreneurs’ Forum was co-organised and supported by approximately 30 youth organisations and business associations from Mainland China, Macao and Portuguese-speaking Countries. The highlights of the event included: the plaque unveiling ceremony of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre for Young Entrepreneurs in China and Portuguese-speaking Countries; the signing of a letter of intent, keynote speeches, and two discussion sessions focusing, respectively, on “A World Connected – China and Portuguese-speaking Countries” and “From Macao to the World, the Importance of Start-up Enterprises”.
The aim of the Young Entrepreneurs’ Forum is to utilise the multilateral cooperation mechanism provided by Forum Macao, and bring into full play the role of Macao as a commercial and trade cooperation service platform between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries. This in turn helps to promote further the exchange and collaboration between young entrepreneurs from Mainland China, Macao and Portuguese-speaking Countries; to strengthen the mutual understanding and friendship between the parties; and create more opportunities for young people from those places.
With their vision, knowledge, dynamism, and their innovative and creative spirit, young people can contribute to the development of China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, as well as to the promotion, in various ways, of cooperation between Mainland China, Macao and Portuguese-speaking Countries.
Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre for Young Entrepreneurs in China and Portuguese-speaking Countries
During the opening ceremony of the “5th Ministerial Conference of Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation Between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries” in 2016, the Premier of the State Council, Mr Li Keqiang, announced 18 measures to support development in the Portuguese-speaking Countries. They included support for the establishment in Macao of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre for Young Entrepreneurs from China and Portuguese-speaking Countries.
The Centre helps to reinforce Macao’s role as a platform for cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, and is a crucial step in the development of the city as a commercial and trade cooperation service platform between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries; and in Macao’s path to being a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure.
China’s 13th Five-Year Plan identifies innovation as the new driving force for the country’s economy. It encourages the development of technology; modernisation and innovation in the services sector; intelligent production; and development of industries with high added value. The fact young people are full of innovative and creative ideas and are eager to try out new business models are essential elements that propel innovation in industries globally.
Macao possesses advantages in multiple fields that enable it to be a comprehensive service platform between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries. They include: its open economy and trade; its ability to facilitate investment; its industrial cooperation traditions; its two official languages; and its culture. Industrial innovation and regional cooperation has become the trend in entrepreneurship in recent years. As a result, the Macao Government established the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre for Young Entrepreneurs in China and Portuguese-speaking Countries. It provides a platform for young entrepreneurs to share ideas and nurture their talents, and to share resources with other young entrepreneurs without being limited by regional boundaries, physical distance and time. This is in line with the measures – announced by the Central Government during the 5th Ministerial Conference of Forum Macao – to strengthen further Macao’s role as a commercial and trade cooperation platform between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, as well as to promote exchange and cooperation between young entrepreneurs from Mainland China, Macao and Portuguese-speaking Countries.
The Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre for Young Entrepreneurs in China and Portuguese-speaking Countries was officially launched on October 18 during the “3rd Young Entrepreneurs Forum of China and Portuguese-speaking Countries” that day. The Centre will share space with the Macao Young Entrepreneur Incubation Centre.
The launch ceremony was officiated by the Secretary for Economy and Finance of the Macao SAR, Mr Leong Vai Tac; the Deputy Director-General of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR, Mr Yao Jian; and the Portuguese Secretary of State of Internationalisation, Mr Eurico Brilhante Dias.
During the Young Entrepreneurs’ Forum, the guests also witnessed the signing of an agreement between Macao Economic Services and Parafuturo de Macau Investment and Development Ltd. Under the agreement, the Macao Economic Services commissioned Parafuturo de Macau Investment to manage the operation of the Macao Young Entrepreneur Incubation Centre.
