CE: Macau aims to industrialize traditional Chinese medicine

The government is committed to the industrialization of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in Macau, the Chief Executive said on Friday.

Chui Sai On made the remarks in a speech at the opening ceremony of the First World Health Organization (WHO) Inter-Regional Training Workshop on the quality and safety of traditional medicine.

The event is organized by the WHO Collaborating Centre for Traditional Medicine (Macau), and is co-hosted by the MSAR government and WHO.

The Government Information Bureau reported that Chui emphasized how the development of the TCM sector is one of the major elements in the diversification of Macau’s economy. The government’s  devotion to promoting the TCM sector was also noted. The government’s future efforts will include ensuring Macau is positioned as an international base for quality control of TCM and as an international exchange and trading platform for the health industry. These measures will be in keeping with Macau’s economic development effort as outlined in the Guangdong-Macau Cooperation Framework Agreement.

The Guangdong-Macau Traditional Chinese Medicine Industrial Technology Park, located on Hengqing Island in Zhuhai Prefecture, can take advantage of Macau’s bridging and linking role with Portuguese-speaking countries, Chui said.

The WHO Collaborating Centre for Traditional Medicine (Macau) was established in August last year with help from the global health body and the Central Government. A number of agreements in relation to the development of TCM have also been signed between the Government and the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine. These steps are considered international recognition of Macau’s effort to promote TCM and have created the expectation of further development of the sector in Macau in the future.