Entourage includes 120 businesspeople
Interview by Gilberto Lopes*
Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai previews his upcoming visit to Portugal and Spain and speaks about cooperation with Brazil and Mexico
Sam revealed, in an exclusive interview with the Portuguese-language TV and radio channels of TDM (“Canal Macau” and Rádio Macau”) earlier this month at Government Headquarters in Nam Van, that around 120 businesspeople and more than 20 companies from the Greater Bay Area (GBA) and elsewhere in the Chinese mainland will join his official visit to Portugal and Spain starting this Friday.
In the Portuguese-language interview, which was broadcast yesterday, Sam talked about cooperation with Portugal and Spain and admitted that one of his next visits could be to Brazil. He also pointed to Mexico as one of the countries Macau wants to focus on.
Sam also noted that, during his trip to Europe, he will also visit Geneva and Brussels, adding that no date has yet been scheduled for the next meeting of the Macau–Portugal Joint Commission.
Sam, who is slated to meet in Lisbon with the Minister of Justice [Rita Júdice] and President of the Supreme Court of Justice President [João Cura Mariano], told TDM that Macau intends to make progress in judicial cooperation with Portugal and reaffirmed his support for Macau’s Portuguese community.
39 cooperation deals to be signed in Portugal
Sam revealed in the interview that around 120 businesspeople and more than 20 companies from the Greater Bay Area and other areas in the Chinese mainland will take part in his visit to Portugal and Spain. Alongside political meetings, particular focus will be on economic and commercial issues, Sam said.
Therefore, a delegation of around 120 businesspeople from Macau and from the Chinese mainland will accompany Sam on what will be his first overseas visit since he took office on December 20, 2024.
“More than 39 cooperation deals will be signed with organisations or companies in Portugal, covering various areas such as trade and the economy, the China–Portugal platform, education, culture, tourism, training of qualified personnel, Big Health and cutting-edge technology”, Sam said.
In the interview, Sam previewed his trip to Portugal. “A photo exhibition on the principle of ‘One Country, Two Systems’ is intended to further the traditional friendship between China and Portugal. In this way, we will also invite a number of personalities who contributed to the successful return of Macau to the motherland [on December 20, 1999] to take part in this exhibition, as well as to show a video with interviews of some representatives recalling historical moments and sharing their perspectives for the future”, he said.
Hengqin & GBA company reps join visit
Sam also said that boosting economic and commercial cooperation was one of the aims of the visit. He outlined several aspects of the programme: “In addition to companies from Macau and Hengqin, more than 20 well-known companies from the Greater Bay Area and other [areas in the Chinese mainland] will take part. As this is the first time the government has organised a visit of this scale, I am confident we can better support and enhance Macau’s role as an ‘infallible link’ between China and Portuguese-speaking countries”, the chief executive added.
Sam also noted that he will meet senior representatives from Portugal’s executive, legislative and judicial branches to strengthen cooperation. His official agenda in Lisbon has not yet been disclosed, but TDM understands that meetings are planned with key figures of the Portuguese Republic, such as President António José Seguro, Prime Minister Luís Montenegro and the speaker of the Assembly of the Republic [parliament], José Pedro Aguiar-Branco.
Sam expects progress in judicial cooperation
Judicial cooperation will be on the agenda for Sam’s visit to Lisbon. In the interview, the chief executive recalled the agreement signed in 2001, but underlined that he expects to secure further progress in relations between Macau and Lisbon in the field of judicial cooperation.
Sam also reaffirmed that he is keen to strengthen cooperation with Portugal. “We will discuss the continued strengthening of exchanges and bilateral cooperation in the judicial domain. In addition, we also expect to achieve greater progress in signing the judicial cooperation agreement”, he said.
Having served as president of Macau’s Court of Final Appeal (TUI) for more than two decades, Sam said that Macau’s recent decision to recruit two Portuguese judges is a positive sign and recalled that “the courts of Macau have been operating well, with judicial independence widely recognised, and the contribution of Portuguese judges has been important”.
Mexico to be future focus
After his top-level meetings in Portugal, Sam will visit neighbouring Spain with the aim of attracting companies and tourists to Macau, but Mexico also features in Sam Hou Fai’s outlook.
Relations with Spanish-speaking countries have become one of the strategic priorities for both the Central People’s Government and the local government, taking in account Macau’s economic diversification and integration into the Greater Bay Area.
It is in this context that Sam’s visit to Madrid fits in, scheduled for April 21 to 23. In the interview, Sam noted that “both Spain and Macau are well-known tourist destinations internationally, and both have a great deal of room for cooperation in the area of tourism”. He also announced that the local government will organise a major tourism promotion campaign in Madrid, with the goal of attracting Spanish and other international tourists to Macau.
10 cooperation deals to be inked in Madrid
Sam Hou Fai revealed that 10 cooperation deals with Spanish companies and organisations will be signed during his visit to Madrid.
Hengqin is also among the objectives for the future. he stressed.
“The MSAR Government will promote to the Spanish business sector the Economic and Trade Service Centre between China and Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking Countries, which was recently established in Hengqin. This is a significant measure by the MSAR in exploring the Spanish-speaking market, which could support companies from Spanish-speaking countries in establishing themselves in Macau and the Chinese mainland, and even assist companies from the Chinese mainland in expanding to Spanish-speaking countries”, he said.
And Mexico is also in Macau’s sights. “The total population of all Spanish-speaking countries is approximately 600 million, which represents a market with great potential. Strengthening exchanges and cooperation with Spain is only the beginning; it will subsequently be extended to other Spanish-speaking countries, such as Mexico. We will also begin work in phases, and I am convinced that the expected results will be achieved”, Sam said.
Sam flags Brazil as future destination
In the interview, Sam also said he expects to visit Brazil. Sam also announced his willingness to strengthen Macau’s relations with Brasília.
During the interview, Sam, the MSAR’s first chief executive fluent in Portuguese, also mentioned other priorities in Portuguese-speaking countries, with special emphasis on Brazil. “For Macau to continue to play its part well as a platform for cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, I also hope that visits to other Portuguese-speaking countries will be carried out at an appropriate time, with Brazil being one of the relevant destinations”.
Sam pointed to what is already happening in the area of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). “In Macau, several TCM products have been registered and have entered the Brazilian market successfully. It is expected that, subsequently, with the proactive push of bilateral cooperation with Brazil, more Macau companies will find commercial opportunities in Brazil”, he said. He also expressed the desire that “more companies from the Chinese mainland may join the Brazilian market through Macau’s platform”.
In the interview conducted in Portuguese, the chief executive outlined what is intended for the future. “Macau will raise the level of cooperation with Brazil, extending it to more areas – covering the economy and trade, TCM, technology and innovation, culture and tourism, education and personal exchanges – promoting the alignment and joint cooperation of the various industry sectors”.
Geneva, Brussels on the itinerary
On his first trip abroad since taking office, Sam’s visit will not be limited to Lisbon and Madrid. In the interview, Sam revealed that he will also visit Geneva and Brussels during the April 17-23 trip. “Geneva represents an important window for Macau to deepen its link with international organisations and to boost cooperation. Thus, during the visit to Geneva, a meeting is expected with the head of the World Trade Organisation [Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala] and with the Ambassador of the Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the WTO [Permanent Representative & Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the WTO Li Chenggang], for a greater deepening of the connection between Macau and international organisations and entities,” he said.
The trip to Europe will also include a stop in Brussels. “The European Union continues to be a relevant cooperation partner for Macau, whether through commercial cooperation or personal exchanges. Therefore, the MSAR Government attaches great importance to establishing links with the European Union”, Sam he said, adding that in Brussels he will meet with EU leaders “to take stock of the successful implementation of the principle of ‘One Country, Two Systems’ in Macau, and at the same time to strengthen pragmatic cooperation with EU entities”.
No date yet for Macau–Portugal Joint Commission
The Macau–Portugal Joint Commission still has no date set, Sam said.
Portugal’s prime minister had announced the Macau–Portugal Joint Commission meeting for early February, but it has been postponed.
In the interview, Sam said that the new date has not yet been set. “As for the 7th meeting, preparatory work began last year, but it has been postponed due to various factors. The MSAR Government is closely coordinating the work with the Portuguese authorities; the exact date and agenda will be announced in due course”, he noted.
Moreover, Sam reaffirmed the importance of the Portuguese community in the MSAR and highlighted the support the local government has provided to Portuguese-based institutions.
End Item
*TDM Controller of Portuguese News & Programmes Division
N.B.: Portuguese text courtesy of TDM, with minor edits. Unabridged translation arranged by the Post. Heading, subheadings, bold type and words in square brackets have been added by the Post.
TDM Controller of Portuguese News & Programmes Division Gilberto Lopes (right) interviews Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai at Macau SAR Government Headquarters in Nam Van earlier this month. – Photo courtesy of public TV and radio broadcaster TDM
