Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai has pledged that the government will leverage its community revitalisation efforts to stimulate the local cultural and tourism economy, with a view to further supporting the city’s small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and safeguarding local residents’ employment.
“Many neighbourhoods and streets in Macau are rich in historical and cultural heritage,” said Sam, who made the remarks during a meeting with the Macao SME Association on Monday.
According to a statement by the Government Information Bureau (GCS) on Monday night, Sam emphasised the significance of SMEs in the development of the local economy: “SMEs are a vital force in Macau’s economic and social development, contributing significantly to sustainable growth and a healthy job market”.
According to the statement, Sam acknowledged the local government’s commitment to revitalising the community economy and promoting the quality development of SMEs.
Sam told members of the association during the meeting, the statement noted, that he would forward their proposals to various functional entities for further study and as a reference for his upcoming 2025 Policy Address.
The statement pointed out that the association’s chairman, banker Stanley Au Chong Kit, raised a raft of issues, such as raising the standard of technological and vocational education in local tertiary institutions, encouraging the trade to effectively utilise information technology (IT) and artificial intelligence (AI), enabling SME operators to enhance productivity and optimise their resources, and establishing a fair, reasonable, and incentivising investment environment.
Meanwhile, in a separate meeting with local National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) members on Monday, Sam, according to a separate GCS statement, listened to their views and suggestions on the formulation of his upcoming 2025 Policy Address, while also exchanging views on issues such as the ageing population, youth education, redevelopment of old quarters, and promoting appropriate economic diversification in Macau.
Sam was quoted as saying that he expected the redevelopment of the city’s old quarters to enhance residents’ quality of life while simultaneously revitalising the community and improving its environment. He also pointed out that adding new projects featuring leisure, cultural and tourism experiences to the old quarters would be conducive to diverting visitor flows and continuously enhancing the attractiveness of Macau as a tourist destination.
These two handout photos provided by the Government Information Bureau (GCS) on Monday night show representatives of the Macao SME Association (left) and local National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) members addressing separate meetings with Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai meeting.
