The newly founded Macao Portuguese- and Spanish-Speaking Countries Entrepreneurs Association hosted its first general meeting at Macau Tower in Sai Van yesterday.
According to a statement released during the meeting, yesterday also marked the association’s formal establishment.
Rui Pedro Cunha, the founding president of the association, noted in a speech that Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking countries span four continents, with a combined population of over 800 million, representing enormous market potential. Leveraging its historical ties, cultural connectivity, and the advantages of the “One Country, Two Systems” principle, Macau is well-positioned as an ideal platform linking these markets with the Chinese mainland, he said. The association will bring together the strength of Macau’s business community to help Macau serve as an economic and trade bridge between China and Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking countries, according to Cunha.
Alan Ho Hoi Ming, head of the association’s supervisory board, said in a speech that the association will focus on areas such as improving member services, facilitating high-level resource connections, and offering policy recommendations. It will promote the deep integration of “industry, academia, research, and application” and organise businesses to “go global as a coordinated group” to expand cross-border economic and trade exchanges and two-way investment.
At the same time, Ho said, the association will organise a number of international economic and trade branding events related to China and Portuguese-and Spanish-speaking countries, in order to enhance Macau’s international influence.
The association’s chairman, Jorge Valente, said in a speech that the association’s membership, which currently exceeds 80 individuals, spans diverse fields including law, finance, conventions and exhibitions, technology, and cross-border trade.
The association has four names – in Chinese, Portuguese, Spanish, and English.
Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai visited Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and Belgium last month to promote Macau’s role as a business-service hub for economic, commercial and cultural ties between China and the world’s nine Portuguese-speaking and 20 Spanish-speaking countries and territories.
Macao Portuguese- and Spanish-Speaking Countries Entrepreneurs Association President Rui Pedro Cunha (centre), Chairman Jorge Valente (right) and Ho Hoi Ming, head of the association’s supervisory board, pose during yesterday’s general meeting at Macau Tower in Sai Van. – Photo courtesy of the association
