WTCM News

PORTUGUESE FINANCE MINISTER SAYS MACAU CAN SERVE AFRICA’S PORTUGUESE-SPEAKING COUNTRIES AS A "BRIDGE" FOR BUSINESS RELATIONS WITH CHINA

   Portuguese Finance Minister António Sousa Franco said at a gathering organised by the Macau government’s Economic  Co-ordination secretariat at the World Trade Center Macau in September that Macau could serve Africa’s Portuguese-speaking nations as a "bridge" for business relations with China and other countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

        Mr Franco made the remark during a meeting with finance and economic affairs ministers and high-ranking monetary officials from Africa’s five Portuguese-speaking countries (Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau and São Tomé and Príncipe) at the WTCM on 26 September.

       The meeting was hosted by the Macau government’s Secretary for Economic Co-ordination, Vitor Pessoa. Several dozen local business community leaders also attended the meeting. Among them were WTCM’s Chairman of the Board Susana Chou, President António Leça, Executive Directors Vitor Ng and Peter Lam.

        Before Mr. Pessoa’s briefing, WTCM President António Leça made a presentation on the WTCM’s projects, services and facilities.

        Mr Pessoa then gave the ministers and officials from Africa a detailed briefing about Macau’s economic development and financial system. Participants in the meeting said the African ministers and other high-ranking officials had shown great interest in Macau’s potential as a gateway to China.

        "Portugal has an historic, cultural and institutional competitive edge (over others) in the Portuguese-speaking countries in Africa," Mr Franco said.

        He urged Macau’s businessmen to pay more attention to the economic developments and investment opportunities in Angola, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe, Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde.

        Macau’s Governor, General Vasco Rocha Vieira, is scheduled to lead a high-powered Macau business delegation to Mozambique in November.