Entrepreneur hopes Leong’s visit to Portugal will generate ‘real collaboration’

CESL Asia signs a protocol with a Portuguese technological company

There is more to do than just protocols and agreements, said António Trindade, CEO of CESL Asia, when commenting on the MSAR’s role as a bridge between China and Portuguese-speaking countries on environmental matters.

Trindade told the Times yesterday that he hoped the recent visit of Secretary of Economy and Finance Lionel Leong would produce “real collaboration” between the regions.

According to him, the recent Startup Macau Forum, which attracted 19 young entrepreneurs from China, Portugal and Macau, shows how the region has become a platform for entrepreneurs to gain exposure to business markets outside their region.

“One start-up event is not enough. We need proper start-ups, start-up incubators, accelerators and consistencies,” he told the Times in a phone interview.

Trindade said there are successful incubators in Portugal with branches and bases in Europe, South America, Beijing and Shanghai, and expressed his hopes that Macau could be a part of this network.

“So this is really a thing that you need the government to work on […] not only Secretary Leong but the whole government.”

He implied that the region needs to establish such integrated platforms to facilitate the exchange of ideas, particularly for young entrepreneurs.

The CEO revealed that CESL Asia signed a solar energy protocol with a Portuguese technology company. The agreement will enable CESL Asia to acquire a solar power technology facility in Estoi (located in the Portuguese province of Algarve) from Magpower, representing an investment of around five million euros. The ceremony was witnessed by Leong.

Trindade stressed that the MSAR has significant goals but needs to work on realizing its vision.

“[Macau] has plenty of goals like [what] we have been talking about but actually doing them…that’s what is impressive.”

“I understand that Secretary Leong came to Portugal and he met a lot of young and very dynamic secretaries of state with a lot of programs [that are] not [only] relevant to Portugal but to the world,” he explicated.

Trindade reiterated his belief that entrepreneurship is the way for the region to diversify. As Leong visited Portugal and met a number of state secretaries, the CEO hoped that the influence of the visit would be evident in Macau.

“[I] hope that very soon things [visits] like these will bring about real change in Macau, resulting in not just talk but action.

“[It is possible for] entrepreneurs to move between China, Portugal and Macau […] and Secretary Leong knows about this. He knows this can be done and I think he will be implementing it.”

Trindade added that Macau, China and Portugal must share technology and innovation in order to foster “interesting developments.”

“I hope Secretary Leong, despite only staying in Portugal for a few hours […], has done a lot [for what] Macau needs,” he added.