To highlight the role of Macao as a service platform and explain the investment environment and business opportunities of Portuguese-speaking Countries, a ‘Seminar on Business Co-operation between Yunnan, Macao and Portuguese-speaking Countries’ was held on June 6. The seminar took place in Kunming Municipality, in Yunnan Province.

The event also discussed business co-operation between Yunnan, Macao and Portuguese-speaking Countries.

The seminar was organised by: the Permanent Secretariat of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Forum Macao); the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM); the Department of Commerce of Yunnan Province; and the Investment Promotion and Co-operation Bureau of Yunnan Province.

Attending the seminar were: the two Deputy Secretary-Generals of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, respectively Mr Vicente Manuel and Ms Cristina Morais; IPIM representative Mr Leong Wa Fong; the Deputy Director General of the Investment Promotion and Co-operation Bureau of Yunnan Province, Ms Wang Qingmei; the Representatives of Portuguese-speaking Countries at the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao; and business representatives from Yunnan and Macao.

The Seminar featured presentations about Forum Macao; Macao’s role as an economic and trade platform; and the investment environment and policies in Portuguese-speaking Countries. It also included presentations about the economic development of Yunnan Province.

Several companies from Yunnan in the sectors of: stockbreeding; agriculture; tea production; medicine and biotechnology; renewable energy; culture; finance and banking; insurance; transport; and export/import trading took part in the Seminar.

The participants had the opportunity in particular to interact with those Representatives of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao that come from Portuguese-speaking Countries. The topics debated included co-operation and support measures for companies from Yunnan Province – particularly from Kunming Municipality. The aim was to help such companies expand into international markets – especially to Portuguese-speaking Countries – making use of Macao as a service platform.

The Seminar contributed to promoting more fully Macao’s role as a service platform between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries. It also allowed for the establishment of an exchange mechanism between the participating parties, thus promoting pragmatic business co-operation between Yunnan Province – particularly Kunming Municipality – and Macao and Portuguese-speaking Countries.