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 (Macao), also known as Forum Macao, jointly organised the workshop “Portugal – More than you imagine: Business and Investment Environment in Portugal”.

The event was held on the afternoon of October 8, 2015, at IPIM’s Business Support Centre.

The aim was to help Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) from Macao and neighbouring regions to learn more about Portugal.

More than 60 people took part in the event, including representatives from economic and trade bodies, as well as business people and investors involved in the trade, retail, e-commerce, accounting, exhibitions and conventions, and education sectors.

During the workshop, IPIM’s Executive Director Ms Glória Batalha Ung noted that trade between Portugal and Macao had reached US$31 million in 2014. In the first eight months of 2015, bilateral trade totalled US$22 million, up 12.9 percent from the same period last year.

IPIM regularly organises and provides support to business delegations from Macao and Mainland China that visit Portugal and take part in trade fairs there. IPIM also provides support to Portuguese companies that come to Macao and Mainland China to attend business exhibitions. One such event is the Macao International Trade and Investment Fair (MIF), which over time has gathered great support from Portugal’s trade and industrial sectors. Last year, 96 Portuguese companies took part in MIF – the largest delegation provided by the Portuguese-speaking Countries.

The 20th edition of MIF – which will be held from October 22 to 25 – will include, for the first time, a pavilion for products and services from Portuguese-speaking Countries. The pavilion, covering 2,000 square metres, aims to become a ‘fair within the fair’. The organisers of MIF will also offer a series of activities during the event, to promote business opportunities, exchanges and co-operation between companies from Mainland China, Portuguese-speaking Countries and Macao.

The workshop held on October 8 allowed participants to learn more about the business environment in Portugal and about the investment opportunities available in the country. The aim was to promote economic and trade co-operation between Macao and Portugal.

Ms Maria João Bonifácio, the Macao head of Portugal’s trade and investment agency, AICEP Portugal Global, was invited to give a presentation on the country. She is also Trade Advisor in the Consulate-General of Portugal in Macao and Hong Kong.

Mr Roger Lai, Deputy General Manager and Deputy Director of the Corporate Banking Division at Banco Nacional Ultramarino (BNU), delivered a presentation at the workshop, titled “Macao as a financial platform for economic co-operation between the People’s Republic of China and Portuguese-speaking Countries”. Ms Sofia Basto da Silva, from the company Vino Veritas, shared that firm’s experiences of doing business with Portugal.

Guest participants in the workshop included: IPIM’s Executive Director, Ms Glória Batalha Ung; the Secretary-General of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, Mr Chang Hexi; the Deputy Secretary-General (appointed by Portuguese-speaking Countries) of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, Mr Vicente de Jesus Manuel; representatives from Macao Foundation; representatives from the Macau Importers and Exporters Association; representatives from the Macau Youth Entrepreneur Association; and representatives from several Macao SMEs.