The closing ceremony of the “Seminar for Portuguese-speaking Countries regarding the Inspection of Economic and Trade Activities” was held on the morning of November 20. It was at the office of 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 Seminar had been organised by the Training Centre of Forum Macao and conducted by the University of Saint Joseph.

Several distinguished guests took part in the closing ceremony, including: the Secretary-General of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, Mr Chang Hexi; a representative from the Trade Delegation of the Economic Affairs Bureau of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR; the Consul-General of Angola in Macao SAR, Ms Sofia Pegado da Silva; the Consul-General of Mozambique in Macao SAR, Mr Rafael Custódio Marques; the Honorary Consul of Guinea-Bissau in Macao, Mr John Lo; the Deputy Secretary-General (appointed by Portuguese-speaking Countries) of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, Mr Vicente de Jesus Manuel; the Co-ordinator of the Support Office of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, Ms Cristina Morais; the Rector of the University of Saint Joseph, Professor Peter Stilwell; the Co-ordinator of the Executive Office of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, Ms Zhang Jie; the Co-ordinator of the Liaison Office of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao and Representative of Cape Verde in Forum Macao, Mr Mário Vicente; and the Representatives of Portuguese-speaking Countries in Forum Macao.

Mr Jesus Manuel, Professor Stilwell, and the Seminar’s Leader on a rotational basis, Mr Francisco José Julião Chacha, delivered speeches during the Closing Ceremony.

This was the fifth seminar held in 2015 by the Training Centre of Forum Macao. The Seminar gathered 21 officials, heads of department and technical staff from public administration services from Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique and Portugal. The Seminar was delivered in Macao and in Hengqin from November 8 to 22.

The Seminar aimed to provide a study and exchange platform for participants from the various countries. It included several talks and visits.

During the group’s stay in Macao, the Seminar programme included: Services Marketing; Monitoring and Regulating Policies; Trade and Economy; Business and Economic Policies; Macao SAR Law; Development of Tourism and Entertainment Industries; Security and Health Care Systems Adapted to Public Needs; Environmental and Urban Policies; and the Role of Macao as a Platform between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries.

The Seminar’s programme included visits to: the Macao Economic Services; the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM); the Macao Cultural Affairs Bureau; Macao’s Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau; Macao’s Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau; the Macau Government Tourist Office; the Association for the Promotion of Macao’s Basic Law; the Bank of China Macau Branch; the Macao Water Supply Company, Ltd.; companies Servair Macau and Hovione PharmaScience Ltd.; and other services and private entities.

Participants in the Seminar also attended the China Macao International Travel (Industry) Expo. They additionally took part in events including the “Seminar on Tourism Promotion” and the “High-Level Seminar on Tourism and MICE between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries”.

In Hengqin, Seminar attendees visited INNO Valley – an “incubator” facility for start-up businesses – to learn more about the project and about the China (Guangdong) Pilot Free Trade Zone.

One of the Seminar’s goals was to take advantage of Macao as a platform, highlighting Macao and Mainland China’ policies, practices and experiences relating to economic and trade activities. Several talks and visits were organised to achieve this goal. The Seminar was also aimed at enhancing exchange between Portuguese-speaking Countries, Mainland China and Macao.

A training session component to the Seminar was designed to offering participants opportunities for professional enhancement and improvement of their technological knowledge. The Seminar additionally opened opportunities for co-operation regarding economic and trade affairs. It further served as a way to promote regional economic co-operation, contributing to Forum Macao’s co-operation and development plan in the fields of education and training of human resources. The Seminar also contributed to deepening Macao’s role as a Services Platform for Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-Speaking Countries.