Business Opportunities

* Asia-Invest

Asia-Invest is an instrument initiated by the European Commission to facilitate small and medium size enterprises (SME's) of the EU member states to find business partners in Asia. It provides financial and technical assistance to enhance the role of intermediary organizations and to upgrade the skills and organizational know-how of entrepreneurs from the less developed countries in Asia. One of Asia-Invest programs, the Asia-Interprise event, is being held in Macau in 18-20 September 2001, which involves an intensive matching exercise between European and Chinese entrepreneurs in a selected sector - the metal industry. Asia-Interprise is operated by the Macau Euro-China Entrepreneurs Club founded in 1996 and its co-organizers in Europe - the Chambers of Commerce in 8 EU countries. These kind of activities will help enhance Macau's role as an intermediary between EU and China's SME's and promote business contacts between China and the Portuguese speaking countries by using Macau as an intermediary. A branch office of the Forum of Entrepreneurs in the Portuguese Language (FELP) was established in Macau in October 2000.

MSLF has created a business arm called the Macau Hong Kong Cultural Development Company to take care of business projects. As Mr. Gary Ngai, Chairman of the Executive Committee and Member of the Board of the Macau Sino-Latin Foundation, explains, "Macau is the only place in China where Europeans can find cultural sympathy - a feeling too often shunted aside in strictly financial and trading terms. Macau is also the only place in the Asia-Pacific region where tourism is developing with a uniquely Sino-Latin flavor. There is no other place in the Asia-Pacific region where three percent of the population already has knowledge of Portuguese, where Portuguese is an official language, and where the Portuguese legal system is in force." All of these linguistic and cultural infrastructures are guaranteed by law to remain in force in the 21st century.

MSLF's business consultancy program hopes to make full use of these advantageous conditions by creating a worldwide network of potential business partners. However, this program is still in the initial stages of development. If you are a small- to medium-size business based in Europe, Latin America, or Africa, and you are interested in doing business in China, you are part of the network we hope to develop. Because our mission is to serve your interests, we would especially like to hear from you. How can our Foundation benefit you the most? What kinds of services and information do you need?

TRAINING IN MACAU

Since the time of Matteo Ricci and Xu Guangqi in the sixteenth century, scholars have been coming to Macau to gain a grounding in foreign languages. Building upon this tradition, the Macau Sino-Latin Foundation, in conjunction with the University of Macau and the newly established Macau 'Millennium' College, has been working hard to turn Macau into a modern center for language training in Asia.

The University currently hosts students from China, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan who need to study Portuguese in order to pursue careers in diplomacy, academia, or business. Recently, the Foreign Ministry of the People's Republic of China decided to close their Portuguese language training programs in Beijing and to send aspiring diplomats to Macau to study Portuguese instead. The Macau "Millennium" College is also providing a bridge with China and the Latin speaking world in offering two-year degree programs in business and tourism. Aside from introductory courses in business management, ethics, communication, and hospitality management, the college will offer a special course for high-level Chinese officials to prepare for China's entry into the WTO. Top professor's and professionals from around the world will be invited to Macau to conduct seminars and lectures on different aspects of the WTO and China.

SINO-EUROPEAN AND LATIN CONTACTS

MSLF has been working hard to forge closer ties between the business and academic communities of China and Macau and those of Europe and Latin America. The following are some completed and long-term projects currently in progress:

* European Union Report

Portugal's Center for International Strategic Studies was approached by the European Union to organize a study committee of the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) to investigate and evaluate Macau's potential as an intermediary between China and the European Union. Gary Ngai, Chairman of the Executive Committee and Member of the Board of MSLF, served on this committee to help draft the report to the European Union. Ambrose So, Chairman of the Board of Directors of MSLF, served as facilitator and liaison for the Chinese side during the committee's investigation in Beijing. The EPG report has been completed and submitted to the European Commission, which drafted a document on Macau's role as an intermediary in the 21st century. The report was submitted to and approved by the European Parliament in the year 2000.

* Raising European capital for investment in the Guangzhou-Zhuhai-Macau Railway

The yet-to-be-completed Guangzhou-Zhuhai-Macau Railway has been designated by Beijing as one of the country's key transport lines. Plans for the railway have been developed, but due to the economic crisis, capital for the project is not yet in place. MSLF has taken on the task of finding European investors for the railway. Through our contacts with the Hong Kong-based trade commissioners of various European countries, the Foundation has put the Chinese railway development authorities in touch with various firms in Europe, and as of the summer of 1999, one German and one French company have expressed interest. MSLF is still working to find enough investors to make this project a reality.

*Introducing China's investment environment to potential European investors

The Foundation's directors have had a series of meetings with representatives from Denmark, Austria, and with trade commissioners of several other European Union member countries, with the aim of introducing the general investment climate of the Pearl River Delta, as well as publicizing some specific projects or areas of interest such as environment protection in the region. These meetings have succeeded in deepening the European representatives' understanding of economic and financial conditions in South China, as well as Macau's importance as intermediary between China and Europe. As a result, plans are being made to establish a liaison office and a European chamber of commerce in Macau.

*Study tour of Macau and Europe for Chinese entrepreneurs

MSLF, in conjunction with its sister company the Macau-Hong Kong Cultural Development Company, LTD., is currently putting together a study tour to Europe for a group of Chinese directors of small and medium sized enterprises (SME's). One tour is planned for Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. A second tour is being discussed for other countries in Southern Europe. Before departing, each group will take part in a special three-day intensive seminar in Macau, to prepare them for their visit.

Aside from learning about European culture and customs, the participants will meet with European entrepreneurs and commercial organizations. This will help to gain a better understanding of management and operational techniques in European industries such as electronics, light manufacturing, building materials production, hotel and restaurant management, food and beverage processing, retail sales, agricultural production, banking, etc. The long-term goal is to have two groups per month to participate in a Macau-Europe study tour.

*China-Macau-Mercosul

A long term plan is being worked out to enhance Macau's intermediary role between China and Mercosul (the common market in South America, including Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay) through seminars, business contacts, and research.