Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that a total of 694 new companies were incorporated in the first quarter of 2010, up by 26.9% year-on-year; the total value of registered capital surged by 99.2% to MOP88 million. Among these new companies, 251 were operating in Wholesale and Retail, with the registered capital amounting to MOP25 million; meanwhile, 133 were operating in Business Services and 97 in Construction.

Furthermore, 444 new companies (64.0% of total) were incorporated with registered capital under MOP50,000 and the value of capital (MOP12 million) made up merely 13.2% of the total. Meanwhile, there were 13 new companies incorporated with registered capital of MOP1,000,000 or over, and the value of capital (MOP47 million) accounted for 53.6% of the total. In addition, more than 80% of the new incorporations were limited companies.

Capital of the new companies came mainly from Macao (MOP66 million), Mainland China (MOP7 million) and Hong Kong (MOP4 million). Capital from Guangdong Province (MOP4 million) took the lead among the Pan-Pearl River Delta provinces.

Analyzed by place of residence of the shareholders, 457 new companies were established solely by Macao shareholders, 84 were joint ventures between shareholders from Macao and other countries or regions.

In the first quarter of 2010, number of companies in dissolution totalled 128 and the value of registered capital amounted to MOP21 million, of which the registered capital of 39 Wholesale and Retail companies in dissolution accounted for 31.1%.