Macao Economic, Trade and Tourism Investment Promotion Seminar Successfully Hosted in Malaysia Facilitating Nearly 120 Business Matching Sessions and the Signing of 54 Industry Co-operation Agreements

Macao Economic, Trade and Tourism Investment Promotion Seminar (Malaysia) was successfully hosted in Kuala Lumpur today (3 September). Leveraging Malaysia’s strengths in digital and electronic technologies, the Seminar facilitated in-depth collaborations in high-tech, tourism, biomedicine, and halal food industries. Over 300 representatives from the political and business sectors of Macao, Hengqin, Chinese mainland, and Malaysia participated in the event, leading to nearly 120 business matching sessions and the signing of 54 agreements. This initiative established a network for Macao industry players to connect with Malaysia in trade, tourism, and business, promoting new opportunities for industrial collaborations under the “Belt and Road” Initiative framework.

The Seminar was jointly hosted by the Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) of the Macao Special Administrative Region and the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), with the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM), the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents, the Malaysia Chinese Tourism Association, and the Industrial Development Bureau of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Co-operation Zone in Hengqin as supporting units.

The Potential and Institutional Advantages of Economic, Trade and Tourism Co-operation between Macao and Malaysia

In his opening address, IPIM President Che Weng Keong highlighted the progressively deepening economic and trade exchanges between Macao and Malaysia, with the bilateral trade volume reaching MOP 2.8 billion in 2025. As the Macao SAR is steadily advancing its Third Five-Year Plan, the Macao SAR government has increased its efforts in talent attraction, policy and financial support, and has launched a number of major projects and a Government Guidance Fund to provide enterprises with a stable and attractive business environment. IPIM provides investors with comprehensive one-stop support services and the Scheme for Supporting the Development of Macao First-Store Economy. These initiatives may incentivise Malaysian companies to leverage Macao’s preferential policies and translate the co-operative potential between the two regions into tangible projects.

Director of Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, remarked that MGTO is dedicated to fostering Macao’s “tourism +” development, tourism diversification and expansion of international markets. Malaysia is a major visitor market for Macao. MGTO has actively rolled out a variety of promotional initiatives in recent years while promoting Muslim-friendly tourism development in Macao, besides raising the destination’s profile at the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) Fair for years. Macao was featured as the “International Favourite Destination” at the MATTA Fair in 2025 and 2026. Last month, the tourism offices of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao jointly spotlighted the appeal of multi-destination travel in Kuala Lumpur. In the future, the Macao SAR Government will continue to deepen ties with Malaysia in tourism to explore opportunities for cooperation, giving play to Macao’s functions as an international platform and the city’s role as a “precise connector” between the Chinese mainland and the world.

Datuk Koong Lin Loong, Treasurer-General of the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) emphasised Malaysia’s position as one of the prime investment destinations in Southeast Asia. Additionally, he highlighted Malaysia’s membership in multilateral trade organisations and its global leadership in the halal food industry, showcasing significant potential for market expansion. Malaysia’s industrial blueprint offers tax incentives for sectors such as aerospace, green technology, and charging infrastructure for new energy vehicles. In recent years, China has been one of the main sources of investment for Malaysia. He urged enterprises from Macao and the Greater Bay Area to effectively utilise the Malaysian platform to collaboratively explore new possibilities for regional economic co-operation.

Thematic Presentation of the Platform Value in Culture, Tourism, Big Health and the Hengqin Co-operation Zone

The event featured a variety of activities, including presentations and business matching sessions, as well as thematic sharing sessions showcasing Macao’s resources and advantages in “Tourism+”, the big health industry, and the Co-operation Zone platform. Participants engaged in discussions mainly focused on collaboration in drug registration and certification, as well as the regional distribution channels.

At the meeting, Wu Chuangwei, Director of Industrial Development Bureau of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Co-operation Zone in Hengqin, introduced the preferential policies of the Co-operation Zone. Dr. Li Hongchun, Chief Physician from the International Medical Centre of Macao Union Medical Center, presented Macao’s initiatives in integrating the big health industry with the tourism and leisure industry through “Medical care + Tourism” initiative. Leveraging Macao Union Medical Center as a platform, Macao is actively promoting medical aesthetics and high-end physical examinations, and is offering a range of quality and diverse medical services for individuals from Southeast Asia and around the world.

The Signed Agreements Encompass Various Multiple Major Industries

A total of 54 co-operation agreements were signed on-site, by companies from Macao, Hengqin, Chinese mainland, and Malaysia, covering a wide range of sectors, including MICE, Muslim-friendly tourism, high-tech and AI technology services, traditional Chinese medicine (big health), branding and marketing, tourism product development and collaboration. Some agreements concentrate on drug registration and certification, regional distribution channel, and “multi-destination” travel, fostering multi-dimensional industrial co-operation between the two regions.

Malaysian business associations and enterprise representatives attending the event believed that Macao is not only a springboard for Chinese mainland enterprises to go global, but also an entry point for Southeast Asian enterprises to enter China. Many companies expressed their hope to utilise Macao’s business advantages and the China-PSC platform, alongside the opportunities in Hengqin, for expanding into markets in the Chinese mainland and Portuguese-speaking countries.

Instant discounts on e-payment platforms spur tourist spending in Macao

Starting from the second quarter of this year, MGTO has partnered with mainstream e-payment platforms to launch special travel offers to Macao in various major visitor markets. Among them, the collaborative promotion with the widely-used e-payment platform TNG eWallet in Malaysia has unfolded on 1 September for three months. Instant discounts are given upon the platform users’ first and second purchases in Macao, while the platform shines a spotlight on Macao as a glamorous destination, to energize Malaysians’ intent to travel and spend in Macao. The initiative is set to boost tourist spending in communities and elevate Macao’s image as a consumer-friendly destination that supports multiple means of e-payment.

Visiting Malaysian Entities and Enterprises to Gain Experience in Diversified Industrial Development

During the visit in Kuala Lumpur, MGTO and Macao’s tourism businesses visited China Cultural Centre in Kuala Lumpur and iQIYI’s office in Malaysia, to gain insights into the market trends in Malaysia and deepen exchange and cooperation in destination marketing. The Macao-Hengqin and mainland business delegation also visited a number of local government entities and leading enterprises, including Malaysian departments responsible for halal certification, clinical research institutions under the Health Department, national microelectronic and digital economy research institute, biopharmaceutical companies, large business complexes and cross-border investment service providers. The on-site inspection and face-to-face exchange allowed the delegation to have deeper understanding of the development of halal industry, biopharmaceuticals, semiconductor and digital economy sectors, conducive to practical business matching among different parties.

The Macao SAR Government will continue to leverage its role as an international platform and the “Precise Connector” between Chinese mainland and the international society. By leveraging the synergistic advantages of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Hengqin Co-operation Zone, Macao will implement more co-operative projects with market prospects and social benefits, effectively advancing the appropriate diversification of Macao’s economy and mutually beneficial regional co-operation.

Legal Disclaimer:

EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.