From 18 to 20 March, the Macao-Hengqin Investment Promotion Delegation (“the Delegation”) organised a number of investment invitation events in Malaysia, including large promotion seminars, business matching sessions, and visits to agencies and enterprises such as the Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce and SkyeChip. Both sides exchanged views on scientific and technological innovation, two-way investment, industrial co-operation, and other matters.

Bright prospect for co-operation in competitive industries

As of 2022, China is Malaysia’s largest trading partner for 14 consecutive years. From 18 to 20 March, the delegation successively launched promotion seminars specifically for high-tech industries in Penang and Kuala Lumpur and ended its trip with the Macao-Hengqin Investment Promotion Seminar 2023 (Malaysia), which was attended by nearly 130 guests from various sectors.

President of the Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce Loo Kok Seong said at the conference that China is a top investment destination for Malaysia’s enterprises, and that  more investment opportunities will arise from Macao-Hengqin business environment, industrial development foundation, and favorable policies, especially new industries focusing on technology and innovation.

Deputy Director of the Executive Committee of the Co-operation Zone Fu Yongge said in his speech that China and Malaysia have strong economic and trade complementarity, fostering a solid foundation for co-operation. In view of the infinite possibilities that will arise from co-operations between Macao, Hengqin, and Malaysia in such areas as technology, R&D, biomedicine, culture, tourism, trade, modern finance, and digital economy, he expressed his hope that the promotion seminar would serve as an opportunity to establish a practical co-operation bridge between the business communities of both sides.

President of Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) Vincent U introduced Macao’s investment environment and promoted Macao-Hengqin development opportunities. He said, Macao is a separate customs territory and benefits from favorable conditions for economic and trade co-operation with the European Union and Portuguese-speaking countries. Along with a variety of advantageous policies and systems, it can provide unlimited business opportunities for overseas enterprises.

Director of the Economic Development Bureau of the Co-operation Zone António Lei elaborated on Hengqin’s favorable policies and business environment, including industrial development, key parks, and favorable policies of the Co-operation Zone, as well as the core policies and investment opportunities of the Co-operation Zone. He welcomed Malaysian investors to invest in Hengqin and share in its development benefits.

During the seminar, enterprise representatives from Macao and Hengqin signed four co-operation agreements with enterprises in Malaysia. These agreements cover a diverse range of topics, including the supply of new energy and materials, construction of new energy systems, trade of featured food products, and Malaysian brand activities.

Facilitating 80 business matching sessions

On the afternoon of 20 March, the “Malaysia-Macao Business Matching Session” attracted over 70 local entrepreneurs in Malaysia to have on-site business matching with 22 representatives from Macao enterprises. More than 80 business talks took place, covering areas including finance, tourism, MICE, trade, and catering.

The present enterprise representatives said that the series activities enabled them to have an in-depth and more comprehensive understanding of both Macao and the Co-operation Zone in Hengqin, adding that they were optimistic about the investment and development prospects of Macao and Hengqin and would further study the policy of the two places, have field trips as soon as possible, and fully leverage relevant policies to conduct co-operation with the two places in various fields.

The Delegation is composed of the relevant personnel from the Executive Committee of the Co-operation Zone, IPIM, the Economic Development Bureau of the Co-operation Zone, as well as enterprise representatives from Macao and Hengqin. Its members include Deputy Director Fu Yongge, Deputy Director Su Kun of the Executive Committee of the Cooperation Zone; IPIM President Vincent U; Director  and Deputy Director of the Economic Development Bureau of the Co-operation Zone António Lei, Zhang Ge; Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Industrial Association of Macau Wong Tim Fok; the representative of Chairman Bank of the Macau Association of Banks Choi Chun In, and representatives of Macao’s industrial and commercial sectors.