Organized by the Training Center of Forum Macao, supported by the City University of Macau, the “Colloquium on Entrepreneurship and Leadership of SMEs for Portuguese-speaking Countries” was concluded with its closing and certificate award ceremony held on June 9 at the Macau Tower Convention & Entertainment Center.

The Secretary-General of the Permanent Secretariat of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao) (Forum Macao), Mr. Ji Xianzheng, noted that SMEs are the fundamental driving force to expand employment, improve people’s livelihoods, encourage entrepreneurship and innovation, as well as the engine for economic growth and social development in different countries. Through the Colloquium, the Training Center of Forum Macao introduced China’s experience regarding digital economy, innovation and entrepreneurship, and smart city construction, while sharing with participants the investment opportunities and relevant policies of the country. The Center seeks to develop the Global Development Initiative into a global action, in order to foster common development of China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (PSCs). The Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao encourages enterprises from the participating countries to make use of Forum Macao and the Macao platform to organize exchange visits and economic activities. It hopes that the participants would be able to apply the knowledge gained from the Colloquium in business development and cooperation between enterprises from China and PSCs, thereby making an active contribution to economic and trade cooperation between the countries.

The Rector of the City University of Macau, Professor Liu Jun, expressed in his speech that Macao plays an unique role as a platform connecting China and PSCs. The Colloquium aims to provide the participants with practical strategies for business development and effective leadership skills, offering them a platform to network with other entrepreneurs and leaders, where they can share their successful experiences and practices. He believes that, with the knowledge and skills studied from the program, the participants will achieve greater success at their business innovation. The Rector remarked that it was an honor for the University to co-organize this meaningful activity with Forum Macao, adding that they will continue supporting and promoting cultural and economic exchange between China and PSCs and leveraging Macao’s function as a platform between the countries.

The rotating representative of the Colloquium, Mr. Neldo Langa, indicated in his speech that the participants hope to establish a platform for direct business exchange and cooperation with PSCs through the mechanism and training opportunities of Forum Macao, with the view to providing business exchange opportunities for SMEs from the PSCs that wish to make an investment in Macao or Mainland China. 

This course was the first in-person colloquium organized by the Training Center of Forum Macao after the pandemic, and also the first colloquium in this year. The program was held in Macao from May 29 to June 10 and attended by 14 participants from Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, and Sao Tome and Principe, including officials, technicians, and executives, senior management from enterprises in the relevant areas. During the program, they attended thematic talks on Macao’s role as a platform between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, the development of the Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, the development of the digital economy in China, the entrepreneurial eco-management systems in Portuguese-speaking Countries, entrepreneurial opportunities in Portuguese-speaking Countries, and investment opportunities in China, among other topics. They also participated in the related activities of the “14th International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum”, paid visits to entities such as the Economic and Technological Development Bureau, the Science and Technology Development Fund, the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship of the University of Macau, Banco Nacional Ultramarino (BNU Macau), the Rui Cunha Foundation, and Bank of China Macau Branch, and exchanged insights with relevant trade associations and Macao enterprises.

All participants agreed that the Colloquium can help PSCs gain a better understanding of SME entrepreneurship and development in Macao and Mainland China, and also learn more about Macao’s role as the Commercial and Trade Co-operation Service Platform between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries. The program also facilitated exchanges among Guangdong, Macao, and PSCs in the area of SME cooperation, and allowed them to explore more cooperation opportunities.

Guests at the ceremony included: the Secretary-General of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, Mr. Ji Xianzheng; the Rector of the City University of Macau, Professor Liu Jun; the Consul General of Mozambique in Macao, Mr. Rafael Custodio Marques; the Vice-Consul for Commercial Affairs and Investment of Portugal in Macao and Hong Kong (Delegate of AICEP Macau), Mr. Bernardo Pinho; the Deputy Secretary-General of the Forum Macao, Mr. Paulo Jorge Rodrigues do Espírito Santo; the Director of the Trade Office of the Economic Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR, Mr. Zhao Xin; and representatives of Portuguese-speaking Countries at Forum Macao.