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Inaugural China and Portuguese-speaking Countries’ Young Entrepreneurs Forum held in Macao
Release time:2015-10-22
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The China and Portuguese-speaking Countries’ Young Entrepreneurs Forum held its inaugural meeting on October 21, at 9.30am, in the Florence Room at Cotai Expo, the convention and exhibition Centre of the Venetian Macao.


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), also known as Forum Macao; the Macao Chamber of Commerce’s Youth Commission; the Macau Youth Entrepreneur Association; the China Young Businesspeople’s Association; and the China and Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking Countries’ Federation. Support was also provided by the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute.


Participants in the Young Entrepreneurs Forum included: the Macao SAR’s Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Leong Vai Tac; the Representative of China’s Ministry of Commerce and Director-General of Economic Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR, Ms Chen Xing; the Head of the Consular Department of the Commissioner of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Macao SAR, Ms Geng Liping; the Deputy Director-General of Economic Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR, Mr Xu Jun; Angola’s Ambassador to China, Mr João Garcia Bires; the Secretary to the Municipal Government of São Luís in Brazil, Mr Luiz Carlos de Assunção Lula Fylho; the President of the Municipality of São Miguel, on Santiago Island, Cape Verde, Mr João Gomes Duarte; Guinea-Bissau’s Ambassador to China, Mr Malam Sambu; the Governor of Tete Province in Mozambique, Mr Paulo Auade; the President of the Municipality of Tondela in Portugal, Mr José António Jesus; East Timor’s National Director for Administrative Modernisation, Ms Maria Goretti Marques Belo; and the Secretary-General of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, Mr Chang Hexi. Mr Chang delivered a speech of welcome.


Honoured guests attending the event also included other diplomats from Portuguese-speaking Countries; diplomats based in Macao; and leaders from Provinces and Municipalities in other Portuguese-speaking Countries; as well as approximately 100 people representing trade associations for young entrepreneurs from the Portuguese-speaking Countries; plus young entrepreneurs from Mainland China and from Macao.


The Young Entrepreneurs Forum was divided into three parts. The first consisted of speeches by guests including the Representative of China’s Ministry of Commerce and Director-General of Economic Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR, Ms Chen Xing; and the Deputy Coordinator of the Free Trade Zone Office of Guangdong Province, Mr Chen Guangjun.


In the second part of the Young Entrepreneurs Forum, a talk was given on the pursuit of the “One Platform, Three Centres” initiative for the co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, and Macao’s role in that initiative. Mr Duarte Alves, from the Macau Youth Entrepreneur Association, acted as moderator during the talk. Businesspeople from Macao, Mainland China and Portuguese-speaking Countries were among those attending. The entrepreneurs present at the talk included Macao’s Mr Lino Ho, Mr John Lo and Ms Angela Lam; Mainland China’s Mr Wang Jianfeng; Mr Bernardo Mendia, Representative of the China and Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking Countries’ Federation; and Mr Alberto C. Neto, Representative of the Portugal-China Youth Entrepreneur Association – AJEPC.


In the last part of the Young Entrepreneurs Forum, several deals were signed between young entrepreneurs from Mainland China, Macao and Portuguese-speaking Countries.


Those young businesspeople present highlighted some of the topics analysed during the event. They mentioned: investment opportunities; the building of the “One Platform, Three Centres” initiative via Macao and the related co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries; as well as the new challenges and opportunities related to the Guangdong-Macao free trade zone.


Through this event and its opportunity for exchange of ideas, young entrepreneurs were able to share their own experiences of successful inter-regional co-operation, and to hear those of other people. They were also able to make use of Macao’s advantages in fields including trade and language services, thereby strengthening multilateral co-operation. The Young Entrepreneurs Forum also assisted in another local and regional policy goal – the development of creative industries.


In summary, the Young Entrepreneurs Forum has provided a platform for young businesspeople to seek commercial opportunities; and a solid base for exchanging ideas in the fields of management and administration. As such, the inaugural edition of the China and Portuguese-speaking Countries’ Young Entrepreneurs Forum was very significant for attendees from those communities and from Macao.