The Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) and the Permanent Secretariat of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation Between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Forum Macao) jointly organised a “Workshop on trade in agro-food products from Guinea-Bissau”
The event was aimed at strengthening the role of Macao as a service platform for economic and trade co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries. It also helped to enhance regional economic co-operation and promote the Lusophone markets among Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and local companies of Macao’s neighbouring regions.
The event was held on May 27 (Wednesday), at IPIM’s Business Support Centre, attracting more than 50 representatives of economic and commercial entities, entrepreneurs and investors.
The workshop intended to increase knowledge about the exports of agro-food products from Guinea-Bissau, thus helping to promote economic and trade co-operation between Macao and Guinea-Bissau.
Malam Becker Camará, Guinea-Bissau’s delegate at the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, was invited as the honoured speaker for the workshop and gave a presentation about market opportunities in the export of agricultural and food products of Guinea-Bissau.
John Lo, the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau in Macao and President of Sociedade Internacional Grupo Excelente, also made a brief presentation to share its experience in trading goods from Guinea-Bissau.
Both speakers pointed out that Guinea-Bissau has several business opportunities in the natural resources sectors for investors and in the hospitality industry. Aside from the agricultural sector, there are also opportunities in other sectors like fishing, timber and iron ore, they added.
New investment projects were outlined during the workshop. There was also a presentation about preferential policies for investment in Guinea-Bissau and other Portuguese-speaking Countries. Such policies aim to encourage Macao enterprises to increase gradually their investment and explore new opportunities.
The Acting President of IPIM, Irene Va Kuan Lau, said that Guinea-Bissau has rich fishing grounds, has large deposits of minerals, and is famed for its exports of cashew nuts and for other high quality agricultural products that have great market potential. Ms Lau said the country offers vast opportunities for co-operation with investment partners, both in the field of natural resources and development of agricultural infrastructure and technology.
In recent years, the volume of trade between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries has steadily increased, from US$6 billion in 2002 to US$132.5 billion in 2014. The data show that products from Portuguese-speaking Countries are becoming competitive in the Mainland China market.
IPIM will organise a business delegation from Macao and Mainland China to participate in the “Meeting of business people for economic and trade co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries”, taking place in Guinea-Bissau in December. The initiative will be complemented by field trips and exchange sessions in order better to understand that country’s investment environment.
During the workshop several products from Guinea-Bissau were on display, including: cashew nuts, fruits and honey. In addition, the organisers arranged exchange sessions for the participants.
Among the guests were representatives of several economic and commercial organisations; entrepreneurs, including members of the Macao SMEs Commercial Association; the International Lusophone Markets Business Association; and the Industry and Commerce Association of Macau Northern District.
