Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR) Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai said today that his eight-day official tour of three Southeast Asian (SEA) countries aims at promoting the development opportunities available during the period of the Third Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the MSAR (2026-2030); attracting more international resources to Macao and Hengqin; and fostering shared opportunities and mutual development.
According to a statement by the Macao Government Information Bureau (GCS), Sam made the remarks at Macau International Airport ahead of his departure for the official visit to Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia. The delegation comprises officials of the MSAR Government and businesspeople.
Sam said that this trip represents another key step in the MSAR Government’s strategy of “Go North, Down South, Move West, Navigate East”, enhancing Macao’s internal and external connections.
Speaking to reporters, Sam noted that – following his April visit to Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and Brussels as well as the WTO and the EU – this latest overseas trip marks his second time leading a delegation of government and business representatives. The visit aims to implement the “Down South” initiative and further to strengthen Macao’s cooperation with the Southeast Asian nations, he said, adding that the visit seeks to leverage Macao’s unique advantage of internal and external connections, particularly capitalising on the immense market potential of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, with a view to attracting greater investment from Southeast Asian enterprises into Macao and Hengqin.
Hengqin is a 106 km2 island in the Chinese mainland’s Zhuhai City adjacent to the 34 km2 MSAR
Meanwhile, Sam said, the visit also serves to consolidate Macao’s strategic positioning as an important bridgehead for the Chinese mainland’s high-level opening-up, and to ensure Macao better integrating into, and serve, the country’s overall development.
Sam also noted that the three Southeast Asian countries are close to Macao, and have cultural affinities with it. These countries also have strong economic links and regular people-to-people exchanges with Macao. Five of Macao’s top 10 source markets for international visitors are places in Southeast Asia. At the same time, Macao enjoys solid bilateral trade and investment relations with these three countries. Given these foundations, Macao is well positioned to deepen cooperation with Southeast Asia, Sam said. This is one of the main reasons the current-term MSAR Government has chosen Southeast Asia for its second overseas mission, Sam stressed.
During the visit, the MSAR Government will highlight Macao’s achievements stemming from the successful implementation of the “One Country, Two Systems” principle, helping Southeast Asian partners better understand the system’s institutional strengths and enduring vitality.
The MSAR Government will also actively promote the development opportunities arising from Macao-Hengqin integration, aiming to attract a greater number of foreign enterprises to invest and establish operations locally, Sam said, adding that the MSAR Government will also promote Macao’s position as a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure, and actively expand Macao’s international visitor markets.
The Chief Executive stressed that 2026 marks the inaugural year of both the nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan, and the MSAR’s Third Five-Year Plan. Over the next five years, the MSAR Government will advance appropriate economic diversification through four major flagship projects. In this context, the MSAR Government will actively introduce to Southeast Asian partners the key elements of Macao’s Third Five-Year Plan, with the aim of jointly seizing new development opportunities.
Supporting local enterprises in exploring overseas business opportunities and assisting the nation in deepening external economic and trade cooperation are also key objectives of the visit, Sam said.
Building on the success of the previous synergy model for government-business collaboration, the MSAR Government has once again organised a business delegation of around 120 representatives, bringing together enterprises from Macao, Hengqin, and other places in the Chinese mainland. Through investment and tourism roadshows, high-level meetings, and onsite exchanges, the delegation will jointly explore the vast markets of Southeast Asia.
According to the official itinerary, the Chief Executive will meet with Singapore’s Prime Minister and Minister for Finance; its Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry; and its Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health.
In Jakarta, Indonesia, Sam will meet with Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs; and the country’s Minister of Tourism, and will also call on the Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sam will meet with Malaysia’s Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, as well as senior officials from the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry.
In addition, according to the statement, Sam plans to engage with local overseas-Chinese community leaders and chamber of commerce representatives to discuss future collaboration.
N.B. This article is based on an unabridged statement released by the Macao Government Information Bureau (GCS) this afternoon. Minor edits and addenda by the Post 
Caption: MSAR Chief Executive addresses a press conference at Macau International Airport this afternoon upon departure for an official visit to Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia. - GCS
