Stronger emphasis on diversification, Hengqin
The local government starts a public consultation today on its drafting of Macau’s 3rd Five-Year Plan, with stronger emphasis on Macau’s appropriate economic diversification and its participation in the development of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin.
Details of the public consultation were announced by the Policy Research and Regional Development Bureau (DSEPDR), the public entity tasked with the drafting of Macau’s 3rd Five-Year Plan, during a press conference at its headquarters in Taipa yesterday.
According to yesterday’s press conference, Macau’s appropriate economic diversification and Hengqin’s development make up over 25 percent of the plan’s draft version announced yesterday.
11 sessions in 40 days
The public consultation is running for 40 days until June 28. The government has scheduled 11 sessions to gather opinions and suggestions from attendees about the 3rd Five-Year Plan and answer their questions, comprising three sessions for members of the general public and eight sessions for representatives from different segments and sectors of civil society.
The three sessions for the general public will be held on June 5, 14 and 23 on the first basement floor of the Public Administration Building on Rua do Campo.
The public consultation document, available in Chinese and Portuguese, can be downloaded from the consultation’s dedicated website (https://www.dsepdr.gov.mo/comment). Members of the public can submit their opinions and suggestions through various channels such as the consultation’s dedicated website, the Macao One Account e-government app, and by email (comment@dsepdr.gov.mo).
The Macau Special Administrative Region’s (MSAR) 3rd Five-Year Plan, officially known as 3rd Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development, covers the period between 2026 and 2030. The Macau government has underlined its commitment to aligning Macau’s third five-year socioeconomic development plan with the nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), the full version of which was published by the Central People’s Government in March this year.
After assessing the opinions and suggestions gathered during the 40-day public consultation, the local government will draw up and publish the final version of Macau’s 3rd Five-Year Plan, a process scheduled to be completed within this year. Afterwards, the government will start implementing the plan.
The local government has now drafted the public consultation document, i.e., the draft version of Macau’s 3rd Five-Year Plan, after reviewing the results in the implementation of Macau’s 2nd Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) while carrying out extensive surveys and research studies, according to yesterday’s press conference.
DSEPDR Director Cheong Chok Man said during the press conference that the local government was able to complete 94 percent of all major tasks outlined by Macau’s 2nd Five-Year Plan by the time the plan was concluded.
6 key pillars
Cheong said the local government has drafted Macau’s third five-year plan based on six key pillars, namely putting into practice the spirit of President Xi Jinping’s various important speeches made during his inspection visit to Macau in December 2024; aligning the local plan with the nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan and the respective development plans of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), Guangdong Province, and Hong Kong; implementing the policies and measures outlined by the candidacy platform of Sam Hou Fai when he ran in the chief executive election in 2024; connecting the current plan with the 2nd Five-Year Plan; adopting a problem-orientated approach; and outlining practicable goals.
Cheong underlined that the government has drafted the 3rd Five-Year Plan in line with eight principles, namely improving the MSAR’s executive-led system; advancing reform and innovation; promoting Macau’s appropriate economic diversification; delivering people-orientated governance; staying committed to openness and inclusiveness; integrating the MSAR into and serving the nation’s overall development; strengthening coordination between different public entities; and adopting a problem-orientated approach.
8 major goals
Cheong said that the local government aims to achieve eight major goals through the upcoming implementation of the 3rd Five-Year Plan, namely fully putting into practice the central authorities’ holistic approach to national security; enhancing governance effectiveness; making new and concrete achievements in its appropriate economic diversification drive; advancing the high-quality development of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin; achieving significant results in the integrated development of Macau’s education, sci-tech, and talent cultivation; safeguarding and improving residents’ well-being; making important progress in building a beautiful and smart Macau; and better integrating into and serving the nation’s overall development.
10 part, 36 chapters
According to Cheong, the 3rd Five-Year Plan is divided into 10 parts. Eight of the 10 parts lay out various tasks, measures, and targets in the eight major goals, while the first part outlines the background for drafting the 3rd Five-Year Plan. The final part lays out various measures aiming to ensure that the government will be able to achieve the tasks and targets listed by the 3rd Five-Year Plan.
The 10 parts comprise a total of 36 chapters.
Cheong also underlined that the local government will only lay out development goals and targets in the 3rd Five-Year Plan that it has concluded it will be able to achieve by 2030. Only practicable tasks and targets will be listed in the plan, he said.
According to the draft version of the 3rd Five-Year Plan, which was announced yesterday, the local government aims for the value added (output) of all non-gaming sectors to account for around 60 percent of Macau’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2030, an increase from the 56.7 percent in 2024.
Cheong underlined that the government does not aim to reduce the output generated by the gaming sector. Instead, the government aims for the gaming sector to operate and develop in a healthy and orderly manner.
Cheong also noted that the aim of developing Hengqin is to provide Macau with more space and opportunities for its appropriate economic diversification.
Cheong also noted that the 3rd Five-Year Plan outlines the local government’s work on safeguarding national security in its second part, following the first part that outlines the background for drafting the plan. He said that ensuring national security is the fundamental basis guaranteeing Macau’s sustainable development.
Policy Research and Regional Development Bureau (DSEPDR) Director Cheong Chok Man addresses yesterday’s press conference at the bureau’s headquarters in Taipa. The press conference lasted 1.5 hours. – Photo: Tony Wong
