The Macau European Chamber of Commerce (MECC) celebrated its eighth anniversary during a cocktail reception at Clube Militar yesterday evening.
The event was supported by Banco Nacional Ultramarino (BNU), Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Macau) and SJM Resorts. A number of other private sector companies also sponsored the event.
The event was attended by various guests including Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, who represented Secretary for Economy and Finance Lei Wai Nong as he was unable to attend, and Macau Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) Executive Director Agostinho Vong Vai Lon. Several other officials were also in attendance.
MECC president notes potential opportunities Hengqin
MECC President of Board of Directors Henry Brockman said that there are potential opportunities for foreign investment to be found on Hengqin as the adjacent island continues to develop.
Brockman made the remarks after the cocktail reception yesterday evening.
Speaking to reporters, Brockman said that with the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, there is “pent-up demand” for personal travel, business travel and business investment. He added that as Hengqin moves towards the next stage of development and new regulations are brought in to make “foreign investment and other investments possible, we should hope coincide with opening up travel again”.
Brockman also remarked that China is and will always be “a key trading partner for all European countries”, noting that if Hengqin and Macau become “a new point of contact for increased trade and investment between Europe and Macau, then we’re here in the right place”.
Moreover, Brockman also spoke about the lack of human resources in the market owing to the pandemic, noting that there “has been somewhat of an exodus” when asked about the number of people having left Macau in the past year.
Brockman added that “Macau has always wanted to be more self-sufficient and to bring on the [local] talent that it already has and the extent to which the Europeans and [other] foreigners have played up to now is great”. Brockman added that in the future, “I think we need to recognise a new reality that perhaps we [Europeans and foreigners] will be slightly fewer in numbers but we are there to bring on local talent”.
Meanwhile, SJM Resorts CEO and MECC Chairman Ambrose So Shu Fai told reporters that there are some expats that are leaving the city to go back to their home countries such as Portugal. So added that although he did not have the total number, he “heard that some professionals are leaving”, which would affect the human resources.
SJM CEO and MECC Chairman Ambrose So Shu Fai speaks with reporters before the cocktail reception yesterday evening. Photos: Rui Pastorin
Macau European Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors President Henry Brockman speaks with reporters after yesterday evening’s cocktail reception to celebrate the 8th anniversary of MECC at Clube Militar.
