Macau, China, March 16, 2026 (Lusa) - Members of Macau's Economic Development Council (CDE) on Monday called for the semi-autonomous territory to strengthen its role as a Sino-Lusophone platform, in the year that the leader of the local government travels to Portugal.
This advisory council held its first meeting of the year today, in a session marked by the analysis of the new guidelines of the 15th Five-Year Plan, approved by the Central Government of China, and by concern over the international situation marked by the conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran.
In a speech before the session, Macau's Chief Executive, Sam Hou Fai, warned of "supply chain disruptions" and other challenges that recent geopolitical changes and international conflicts have generated as threats to the city's economic development.
Amber Li Jiaming, president of the HN Group and a member of the council, stressed in statements to Lusa after the session that Macau must "make good use of its advantages" and strengthen its role as a platform connecting China with Lusophone and Hispanophone countries.
"We have to better position ourselves as a platform for Portuguese-speaking countries and make China better known to the world," she stated, adding that the connection with Lusophone countries "has been Macau's strong point," which is now extending "to Spanish-speaking countries."
China established the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR) as a platform for strengthening economic and trade cooperation with Portuguese-speaking countries in 2003 and, in that same year, created the Macau Forum.
Sam Hou Fai, who took office in December 2024, also pointed to the promotion of financial and commercial services between China and Hispanic countries as a priority.
Meanwhile, Ng Wah Wai, a councillor and executive president of the Industrial and Commercial Association of Macau, warned that, considering the "international economic situation," Macau must be "prepared for these external influences."
The official added that the financial sector should take advantage of the five-year plan to find new forms of development and that one of the priorities involves attracting visitors from Lusophone and Hispanophone countries.
The local government announced on February 27 the launch of a Government Guidance Fund of 20 billion patacas (€2.1 billion), which aims to guide private capital towards investment in priority sectors that help diversify the local economy, currently dependent on the casino gambling sector.
Li highlighted that this fund is essential to "help Macau reach new levels," supporting small and medium-sized businesses, attracting qualified personnel, and creating more employment opportunities for young people.
Furthermore, Ng confirmed that Macau's Chief Executive, Sam Hou Fai, is expected to visit Portugal and Spain in April, after successive postponements. "We have to see how to best promote Macau in those places," he said.
Initially, the Government had pointed to the visit to Portugal for the first half of 2025, but it was later postponed to the summer due to the Portuguese legislative elections.
It was even officially scheduled for September 16 to 23 last year but was eventually postponed again.
The last time an MSAR Chief Executive visited Portugal was in April 2023, which was the first overseas trip by former leader Ho Iat Seng following three years of pandemic restrictions.
At the time, Ho met with the then Portuguese Prime Minister, António Costa, and Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, then President of the Republic.
NCM/RYOL // AYLS
Lusa
