The first phase of the government’s financial support programme offering subsidies to small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to digitalise their operations is still going on, but the application period for the programme’s second phase will start next Monday, offering 300 quotas, Macau Productivity and Technology Transfer Centre (CPTTM) official Lam Tou told reporters yesterday.
Lam made the remarks on the sidelines of the Seminar on Green Seafood and Green Tableware Sourcing, held yesterday by CPTTM at the Forum Macao Complex, which was attended by representatives from various public entities and the city’s integrated resort (IR) companies.
The subsidy programme has been launched by the Economic and Technological Development Bureau (DSEDT), which has commissioned the CPTTM to implement the programme.
Each beneficiary in the first phase will receive a subsidy of up to 18,000 patacas next month for a service to be provided by one of the programme’s listed IT companies which will digitalise their operations, Lam pointed out, adding that a total of 600 SMEs participating in the first phase of the government’s programme have completed a training course on digitised operation and are installing smart payment systems.
The programme aims to encourage local SMEs to launch a digital transformation in their marketing campaigns, payments, and other daily operations, and it is divided into two phases this year, with the first phase’s application period, which ran from May 6 to 26, having received 1,279 applications.
Lam acknowledged that the demand from local SMEs could not be met with just 300 places in the second phase, adding that the centre will conduct surveys and collect feedback from SMEs and continue to provide different training programmes next year depending on the situation.
This year’s programme will cover businesses in sectors comprising retail, wholesale, restaurants and manufacturing, as well as other businesses that provide customers with various other daily-life services.
Locally established companies that employ no more than 100 employees will be eligible for the programme. Businesses only operating online will not be covered by the programme. In addition, companies will be required to be “financially sound” to be eligible for the programme.
Yesterday’s seminar focusing on the food industry explored the importance and future trends of eco-friendly seafood certification and green tableware, helping the industry understand how to effectively implement sustainable sourcing strategies, which not only enhance the quality of products, but also increase the competitiveness of enterprises in the market and consumer confidence.
During yesterday’s seminar, one of the speakers, Wong Sun-leung, technical service manager of the third-party certification agency SGS Hong Kong Limited, said that with the increase in available raw materials and suppliers, the price of environmentally friendly tableware has come down, and SMEs are advised to learn more about eco-friendly materials and find alternatives to plastics that comply with international standards.
Macau Productivity and Technology Transfer Centre (CPTTM) official Lam Tou talks to reporters on the sidelines of yesterday’s one-day Seminar on Green Seafood and Green Tableware Sourcing held by CPTTM at the Forum Macao Complex. – Photo: Ginnie Liang
