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EDITOR’S MESSAGE

Macao Chief Executive Chui Sai On delivered the Policy Address for Fiscal Year 2018 in November 2017. With the title “Be pragmatic yet enterprising, and share the fruits of development”, the most important statement of policy produced by the Macao SAR Government makes a commitment to push for steady economic development, and suggests stronger support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

This issue of Macao Image looks at the measures announced in the Policy Address for 2018 and the steps that will be taken to foster the growth of emerging industries, promote the development of a “smart city” and increase regional co-operation with a view to integration of national development strategies.

A year after China resumed diplomatic relations with São Tomé and Príncipe, Macao Image talks to Gualter Vera Cruz, the Representative of São Tomé and Príncipe in the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao), who spells out ways to develop investment and trade relations. His government is setting about boosting the transformation of the economy. The building of a deepwater harbour and new airport are the centrepieces of their strategy.

This issue of the magazine describes some of what the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) has been doing to promote products of the Portuguese-speaking Countries in the Mainland Chinese market. Since March 2017, IPIM has put on a series of events in various cities in Mainland China and Hong Kong, which have been fruitful for the companies taking part.

Macao is establishing itself as a Commercial and Trade Co-operation Service Platform between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries. The Portuguese-speaking Countries Food Products Exhibition Centre is an important part of that endeavour. In the year and a half since the food exhibition centre opened in Macao, the number of products on display has almost doubled from 700 to more than 1,200, attracting 140 businesses from Macao and abroad.

The magazine also looks at the success of the 22nd Macao International Trade and Investment Fair (MIF), held from 19 to 21 October 2017. MIF plays a pivotal role in connecting enterprises with markets around the world by attracting significant numbers of exhibitors and buyers. The 2017 Portuguese-speaking Countries Products and Services Exhibition (Macao) (PLPEX) departed from the previous practice in that it was held separately from the MIF, albeit concurrently. Macao Image interviewed several people taking part in the two events, who spoke about their expectations.

In recent decades barbershops seem to have been disappearing from the streets of Macao. Finally, we also consider the modern evolution of the barbershop and see how a new breed of barbers believe their craft is irreplaceable.