Secretary for Economy and Finance Anton Tai Kin Ip said yesterday that the government is proposing two possible choices for the location of its planned science and technology research and development industrial park, namely the plot at the bottom of Big Taipa Hill, near the airport, previously earmarked for a sandwich-class housing project, and a plot on the Zone E1 land reclamation area off Taipa’s Pac On district.
The first proposed plot, located on Avenida Wai Long in Taipa, covers 83,000 square metres, while the second proposed plot, on Zone E1, covers 177,000 square metres, according to Tai.
Zone E1, located between Friendship Bridge and Macau Bridge, is still largely undeveloped.
The policy secretary also noted that the government will start its process on Thursday to gather opinions from members of the public about its proposal for the planned Macau Science and Technology Research and Development Industrial Park.
Tai made the remarks during yesterday’s one-day Q&A session in the Legislative Assembly’s (AL) hemicycle about his portfolio’s policy guidelines for next year.
The public opinion collection process will run until December 26. The government will announce details of its proposal for the planned industrial park when the opinion gathering process starts on Thursday. The government’s ongoing planning of the industrial park is being carried out by the Economic and Technological Development Bureau (DSEDT).
The planned industrial park is one of the local government’s four future large-scale projects aiming to inject new impetus into Macau’s long-term development, comprising the Macau International Integrated Tourism and Cultural Zone, the Macau Science and Technology Research and Development Industrial Park, the Macau International Aviation Hub for the Pearl River West Bank, and the Macau-Hengqin International University City.
During yesterday’s Q&A session, Tai also said that the government was aiming to set up the science and technology research and development industrial park by leveraging the foundation that Macau has laid over the years in its scientific research, with a special emphasis on attracting high-quality tech enterprises in four major fields, namely integrated circuits, digital technology, aerospace technology, and big health driven by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), as well as other promising fields such as intelligent robotics and new materials.
Moreover, Tai also said that the government is planning to set up a Macau International Centre for Scientific and Technological Industry next year, which will be operated during the interim period before the future Macau Science and Technology Research and Development Industrial Park starts operating.
Tai said that the centre, slated to be operational next year, aims to attract tech firms from outside Macau regarded by the local government as meeting the future industrial park’s development direction.
Tai also said that the Macau International Centre for Scientific and Technological Industry, covering 2,000 square metres, will be housed in an office space in a building in Nape, which was previously used for the Macao Young Entrepreneur Incubation Centre, which has been relocated to an office building in the city centre.
Meanwhile, Tai also said that the Consumer Council (CC) and the Science and Technology Development Fund (FDCT) will be merged into the Economic and Technological Development Bureau (DSEDT) by the end of next year.
Tai also said that the government was drafting plans for its ongoing project to revitalise six historic areas, in conjunction with the city’s six gaming operators, to be run in a slightly different mode.
According to the new model, Tai said, the government will continue to coordinate and oversee the operations of the projects in the six areas, while the respective gaming concessionaires will continue to invest in the projects, with community associations and others from various segments of civil society participating in the projects by organising arts and cultural activities and events there.
Tai said that the government will assess and approve plans submitted by the respective gaming operators for revitalising the historic areas, while the gaming operators will implement the revitalisation by making financial investments as promised to the government. Those from various segments of civil society, including those from the cultural sector, will be tasked with devising and designing various activities and events aiming to attract people to the areas.
Meanwhile, Tai also said that the government is preparing the drafting of proposed amendments to the number of days for statutory paid maternity leave and annual leave listed in the Labour Relations Law, adding that the government will start its process to gather opinions from the labour and business sectors.
Secretary for Economy and Finance Anton Tai Kin Ip addresses yesterday’s Q&A session about his portfolio’s 2026 policy guidelines in the Legislative Assembly’s (AL) hemicycle. – Photo: GCS
