Yuki Lei in Singapore
Macao ASEAN International Chamber of Commerce (MAICC) Chairman Kelvin Tan Hai Ching has led today a delegation of over 40 Guangdong-Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA) business representatives, from Macau in particular, to visit United Overseas Bank Venture Management (UOBVM) Private Limited in Singapore to learn more about the development of the financial services sector in the city state, and Tan said that he looked forward to the visit as an opportunity for entrepreneurs from the GBA to develop their business in ASEAN countries.
Singapore is one of the 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Tan said during the visit: "The chamber hopes to become a super liaison between ASEAN and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area, and through the chamber, GBA entrepreneurs will be able to enter ASEAN countries to expand their business opportunities."
The Macao ASEAN International Chamber of Commerce has organised a business fact-finding trip to Singapore and Malaysia’s state of Johor for young entrepreneurs from the GBA, especially from the area's two administrative regions — Macau and Hong Kong, with a view to assisting them in expanding their business opportunities in the two countries. The delegation has visited UOBVM — a bank-backed private equity firm — today and was warmly received by its executive director Clarissa Loh Su Hui. According to Loh, a private equity firm that provides linkages among portfolio companies and strategic partners in the greater China area and Southeast Asia in the fields of financial services, healthcare, technology, education, greening, and environmental protection. During the about one-hour-long exchange, members of the delegation expressed their determination to strengthen cooperation between the two sides.
MAICC Founding Chairlady Amber Li Jia Ming — a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) — told the English-language Post and Chinese-language Macao Daily News after the visit to UOBVM that Southeast Asia, especially Singapore, has very close cooperation with China, of which the Greater Bay Area is an important part, adding: “Macau itself is a member of the Greater Bay Area, and I believe that the cooperation established between Macau and Singapore will help bring Singaporean attractions to the Greater Bay Area”.
The GBA, the concept of which was announced by the Chinese State Council in 2017, is a megalopolis comprising the special administrative regions (SARs) of Hong Kong and Macau as well as nine cities in Guangdong Province, including the mega-cities of Guangdong and Shenzhen. The GBA has a population of 86 million people, about the same as Germany, and covers 55,800 square kilometres (about the size of Croatia), making it the world's largest and most populated conurbation.
Also earlier today, organised by Simple Group and Singapore Chamber of Commerce Malaysia, 21 members of the delegation took part in business matchmaking meetings with 14 enterprise representatives from Singapore.
Today's itineraries also included visits to the Sands Expo & Convention Centre, OCBC Bank Wisma Atria featuring lifestyle and banking services, and the Chinese embassy in the Lion City.
During the visit to the embassy, Economic and Commercial Minister Counsellor Zong Changqing told the delegation that Macau, Hong Kong and Singapore are pillars of an economy based on modern service industries, adding that the continuous convention and exhibition activities and forums throughout the year, various cultural exchange activities, cultural performances and concerts, as well as the annual Grand Prix races (in Singapore and Macau) can all help attract visitors and promote the development of the respective tourism industries, thereby boosting their economic development.
The delegation arrived in Singapore yesterday. The fact-finding visit will continue through next Tuesday.
Caption: MAICC Founding Chairlady Amber Li Jia Ming — a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) — poses after talking to The Macau Post Daily and Macao Daily News in Singapore today. Photos: Yuki Lei
Caption: members of the Macao ASEAN International Chamber of Commerce (MAICC) delegation to Singapore and Johor Bahru in Malaysia, including MAICC Chairman Kelvin Tan Hai Ching (third from left), pose at the Singapore-based UOB headquarters after today's visit to UOBVM Private Limited.
