Macao Polytechnic Institute (MPI) and Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) jointly organised the “Experience Sharing Session on Portuguese Speaking Countries” on 13th April. The event aimed to promote Macao's role as an Economic and Trade Co-operation Service Platform between China and Portuguese Speaking Countries, to raise awareness of the platform among the younger generation, and to encourage Macao’s higher education students to take advantage of the platform during their careers.

This session was conducted by the President of IPIM, Dr. Lau Wai Meng, the Director of Hua Chuang Sino-Portuguese Industry Development Company Limited, Director of H.C. Group. (Macau), Director of Aucoin Carnes and Foods Limited and Member of the Anhui Province Committee for the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Dr. Jorge Valente, and the Director of Perfection, Dr. Tony Hoi. During the session, they shared with MPI students the advantages of Macao as the Platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, the different experiences in business management in Portuguese-speaking countries and the analytical perspectives on the investment conditions in the future, among other topics. The session was attended by about a hundred students and faculty members, who actively interacted with the representatives during the event.

A Key Contributor to the Future Sino-Lusophone Platform

During the session, Lau Wai Meng said that at present, by actively leveraging its unique advantages and its role as a Platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, Macao is not only attracting enterprises from Mainland China to invest in Macao and explore the market of Portuguese-speaking countries, but is also attracting enterprises from Portuguese-speaking countries to invest in Macao and explore the market of Mainland China. The President of IPIM also encouraged the students to continue to hone their qualities and face the adversities encountered with firm principles and beliefs, so that they can take up the mission assigned to them in the future with conviction and determination.

Jorge Valente, on the one hand, shared with the students his own experience in managing business related to the cooperation between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries, namely the commercial techniques used and the solutions adopted to overcome the problems encountered; he also explained that, as a Macanese, he understood early on the importance of integration in the context of national development, so it is essential that students, under the framework of the Platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries, leverage their own qualities and advantages in exploring business opportunities in the Mainland China market, especially in the Greater Bay Area.

Tony Hoi, on the other hand, spoke about his experience in investment consulting work and organisation of convention and exhibition activities within the framework of the cooperation relationship between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, with the aim of letting students understand that there are several outlets for them to help support them to make their respective career planning. In addition, he also presented the bilingual executive training program, in Chinese and Portuguese, in the area of law, which allows graduates to go to Portuguese-speaking countries to learn the Portuguese language and pursue their master's degree studies in law.

The Vice President of MPI, Lei Ngan Lin, the Director of IPIM's Department of Economic and Trade Promotion with Lusophone Markets, Dr. Lei Chi Wai Antonio, the Acting Head of Academic Affairs Department of MPI, Cheong Weng Lam, the Head of Student Affairs Office of MPI, Lao Weng Ian, and the Deputy Director of Economic and Trade Projects Division of IPIM, Cheang Weng Ian were also present at the session