Economic Services Bureau (DSE) Director Tai Kin Ip said yesterday that his bureau would assist small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in developing and supporting their “typical old shops” to rebrand.
Tai made the remarks in his opening speech during a founding ceremony at the government-run Macau Business Support Centre (MBSC) in China Civil Plaza in Alameda Dr Carlos d’Assumpçáo.
At the event, the bureau launched the “Typical Old Shops Support Group” in conjunction with the Macau Chain Shops and Franchise Association as well as a service centre to provide guidance for the registration of commercial matters in mainland China, in cooperation with the Guangdong and Macau Federation of Industry and Commerce.
According to Tai, the bureau had been preparing the launch of the “Typical Old Shops Support Group” since the beginning of the year. Cooperating with the Macau Chain Shops and Franchise Association, Tai said the bureau was planning to conduct a survey
on the city’s “typical old shops and set up standards to benefit “time-honoured brands”, while eligible shops could apply to join the support group.
He noted that the city’s “time-honoured brands” include those in the catering, production, services and Sino-Portuguese trade sectors.
Rather than giving direct financial aid, he said the group aimed to provide technical assistance to eligible shops in technological innovation, management, marketing and rebranding.
When asked by a reporter when the relevant standards for the “time-honoured brands” would be released, Tai said the bureau was slated to release them either at the end of this year or the beginning of next year. He added that the evaluation of the “time-honoured brands” was expected to be completed in the first quarter of next year.
Tai also said the group would help time-honoured brands improve their competitiveness not only in Macau, but also on the mainland, considering that Macau has joined the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area Initiative (GBA).
Economic Services Bureau (DSE) Director Tai Kin Ip speaks to reporters yesterday in the Macau Business Support Centre at China Civil Plaza in Nape yesterday. Photo: Joel Chu
