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Innovation is vital for Macao’s future. In this issue of Macao Image, we examine key areas of the Macao SAR Government’s Policy Address for 2019 themed “Seize opportunities for balanced development”.
Chief Executive Chui Sai On said that during 2019, the internal and external environments will remain complex and volatile, but the Macao SAR Government expects the economy to remain stable. The SAR Government will continue making progress while ensuring stability, he added. The SAR Government will remain cautiously optimistic, and be well-prepared for adverse situations. The SAR Government will enable prompt implementation of appropriate measures, namely for optimisation of the city’s business environment, setting of proper macro fiscal and taxation policies, and increasing public investment.
This year’s policy introduces a significant new tax incentive scheme designed to encourage local companies to invest in technological innovation. Integration was also a major buzzword from the Policy Address, with plans to seize new opportunities from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. A new department – the Working Committee for the Development of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area – will boost integration efforts.
Macao Image is also pleased to present an exclusive interview with Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Director of the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO). In this issue, she shares her insights on all of the benefits that the new Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge will bring to Macao tourism. She said the world’s longest sea crossing bridge will serve as a means to make travelling to Macao much faster and easier, adding that launching multi-destination tourism products are definitely a priority to advance the Greater Bay Area strategy.
The Macao Government Tourism Office is also launching new technology to further the city’s smart tourism development. In addition to big data, service robots and chatbots would be used to enhance the visitor experience in Macao, says the tourism office.
In this issue, we also look at how the new bridge is set to impact the Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) industry. Macao Image speaks to MICE associations and academics about the future of the industry in Macao. The bridge brings regions within the Greater Bay Area closer together, which will lead to more business events being held in our city.
We also look into the success of the “Let’s Hang Out – Lusophone and Macao Products Bazaar”, an event to further advance the city’s role as a “distribution centre for food products from Portuguese-speaking Countries”. The three-day event attracted 30,000 visitors and participation from 27 Macao companies.
For the first time, the China International Import Expo (CIIE) was held in Shanghai in November 2018. CIIE gave local companies the opportunity to present “the other side of Macao”, say entrepreneurs that took part in the event. Macao Image also interviewed newly registered Macao companies to find out just how efficient IPIM’s “One-Stop Service” is for entrepreneurs.
This issue also highlights the success of two local companies who benefited from the tourism market development. One company designs 3D gold and jade displays inspired by Macao’s iconic landmarks, while another produces high quality plush slippers for millions of hotel guests.
