The Archives of Macao opened its “Renowned in Business – Macao Merchants in Historical Archives” exhibition on Monday, presenting documents that illustrate the development of Macau’s commercial sector over the past century.
Built on trade and sustained by maritime exchange, Macau has long relied on the business acumen of its merchant communities, according to an information board at the exhibition’s entrance. The message notes that the exhibition traces this evolution from the Ming and Qing dynasties, when Portuguese traders dominated maritime commerce in the region in conjunction with merchant groups in Fujian and Guangdong provinces.
In the 19th century, Macau’s temporary Portuguese administration declared the city a free port and adopted a raft of business monopolies. All this, the message said laid the foundations for the rise of Macau’s Chinese merchant class.
Successive waves of regional instability pushed Chinese merchants to seek refuge in Macau, where they became critical contributors to the city’s capital, markets and labour force, the message said. By expanding across industry, finance and multiple commercial sectors, they gradually became the principal players in Macau’s business landscape. At the same time, foreign merchants – many arriving from Hong Kong – introduced new operating models and technical knowledge.
The result was a diverse business community centred on Chinese businesspeople but enriched by wider regional participation, the message added.
According to the message, the Archives of Macao curated materials document these developments, selecting records linked to key business figures who helped shape the city’s modern commercial identity.
The documents on display reveal how merchant networks navigated political change, economic reform and cross-cultural encounters, shedding a light on the broader story of Macau’s development over the recent century.
“Renowned in Business – Macao Merchants in Historical Archives” will run until April 26 next year. The exhibition is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., including public holidays, but closed on Mondays. With free admission, history buffs may view the exhibition at the Archives of Macao at 91-93, Avenida do Conselheiro Ferreira de Almeida.
Photos by Khalel Vallo
