Portuguese-speaking countries include Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, Sao Tome and Principe and East Timor.The total population of the countries combined is more than 200 million, and there are many potential markets to be developed.

Although, Portugal is a small country with less than 10 million people, it is easy to enter the European Union (EU) market that has 370 million consumers. Furthermore, Portugal has one of the lowest operational costs in the EU.

Brazil has one of the top ten economic systems in the world; it is located in South America where a fast-growing free trade zone exists. Brazil is an entrance to the South American market of 200 million people.

Angola and Mozambique are both member countries of the Southern African Union.

Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde are located in the west Africa whereas Sao Tome and Principe is in the central Africa. They both are developing-countries, At present, China exports machinery and provides technical labour to these nations, giving Chinese made products an excellent competitive advantage.

Given the language, culture and intimate relationships, Macao has been communicating with the above countries through various channels for a long time. This can be reflected in the International Commercial Conference for Portuguese-speaking countries, which is held in Macao annually.

IPIM has a lot of co-operation protocols with the relevant organizations and commercial associations in Brazil and Mozambique. The organizations include the Portuguese Commercial Association in Macao, Portuguese Business Centre in Asia, Forum dos Empresarios de Lingua Portuguesa, Camara de Comercio e Industria Lusi Chinesa, Portuguese Business Association and Portuguese Trade Commission.

As an intermediary between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, the advantages for Macao are: Macao Special Administrative Region Government has adopted similar legislation and political structure to Europe, this reduces the market distance between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. Chinese and Portuguese are both Macao's official languages, Portuguese in Macao is commonly used as there are Portuguese newspapers, magazines, Portuguese schools, radio and TV station.

Given the similar language and cultures, some of the Macanese have emigrated to Brazil and Mozambique, therefore they now understand their customs.

Macao's entrepreneurs who are familiar with the markets of China and Portuguese-speaking countries along with experts on legal, accounting, business, marketing development and consultancy can jointly enhance opportunities of international co-operation for Macao, while strengthening the relationship for China and Portuguese-speaking countries. In order to strengthen the economic co-operation and development between China and Portuguese speaking countries and improve the international status of Macao SAR, the first “Economic Co-operation Forum between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries” was held by the Central Government of the People Republic of China with the Macao SAR Government being the event coordinator. It is mainly for the economic co-operation and development of the both sides and is non-political. The “Economic Co-operation Forum between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries” will be held every three years and the first was in Macao in October 2003. Those attending the first forum include Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, China, East Timor, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique and Portugal. Moreover, Vice-Minister of Commerce, An Min and ministers of Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, East Timor, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique and Portugal signed the "Economic And Trade Cooperation Action Plan" at the ministerial meeting held in the Forum. The Action Plan established the mode of cooperation between the participating countries in the future, covering areas such as inter-governmental cooperation, investment and enterprises cooperation, trades, agriculture and fishing, construction and infrastructure, natural resources and human resources.