The Federal General Commercial Association of Macau Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises and the industry and commerce associations of Macau’s central-southern and northern districts as well as the one representing Macau’s two off-shore islands (Taipa and Coloane), joined hands with Zenta Group’s Macwise Technology Limited to launch yesterday an “Artificial Intelligence for Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) Development Programme”, aiming to encourage SMEs to make good use of AI technology to enhance their competitiveness and productivity, and thus help to boost Macau’s economy in line with the government’s “1+4” strategy of ensuring the local economy’s appropriately diversified development.
The programme’s kick-off ceremony was held at the First Nacional Commercial Building in Zape yesterday.
Federal General Commercial Association of Macau Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises President Andy Wu Keng Kuong, who is also the president of Macau Travel Industry Council, told reporters on the sidelines of the ceremony that in the first phase of the programme, only 268 shops in the northern, central and southern districts as well as Taipa that have been certified by the government as “Distinctive Shops” will be able to benefit from the newly-launched mobile app “Macwise”, adding that the app will make use of AI technology to assist local SMEs in online and offline promotions, so as to deal with their varied online promotion capability and energise their business development.
Addressing the ceremony, both the presidents of the Industry and Commerce Associations of Macau Central and Southern District and Industry and Commerce Associations of Macau Northern District, Lei Cheok Kuan and Wong Kin Chong respectively, pointed out in their separate speeches that the development of AI technology, which is the general trend, had brought new hope to SMEs in tackling their business difficulties, adding they believed that the application of AI would help SMEs improve the operational efficiency and business development, providing them with support in information exchange, technical training and market development, and promote their digital transformation.
Introducing the self-developed AI application app “Macwise” at the ceremony, Macwise Technology Limited Chief Operating Officer (COO) Charles Sou (蘇永勝) said that the purpose of developing the app was to provide SMEs with a platform for upgrading and digital transformation by using AI as a carrier, adding that by exploring the use of the “Artificial Intelligence + Cultural and Tourism Scenario” model, app users would be able to quickly learn about Macau’s cultural background, speciality food and beverages, cultural and tourism products, and featured events, while the SME sector could use the app’s functions to create the content for their advertising posts and reply to those interested to their products, and “precisely” forward the posts to their potential clients.
Federal General Commercial Association of Macau Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises President Andy Wu Keng Kuong (third from left), Industry and Commerce Associations of Macau Central and Southern District President Lei Cheok Kuan (third from right), Industry and Commerce Associations of Macau Northern District President Wong Kin Chong (second from left) and Macwise Technology Limited Chief Operating Officer (COO) Charles So (right) as well as other representatives pose during yesterday’s kick-off ceremony of their “Artificial Intelligence for Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) Development Programme”, at the First Nacional Commercial Building in Zape. – Photo: Yuki Lei
