First-store economic plan launched to boost local retail environment

A new initiative aimed at attracting non-local brands to open their first outlets in the city was announced Wednesday by local authorities.

The “Program to Support the Development of Macau’s First-Store Economy” will begin accepting applications on Nov. 1, offering subsidies of up to MOP1 million to qualified businesses.

The program aims to attract leading international brands, brands from Portuguese-speaking and Spanish-speaking countries, as well as businesses from Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan that plan to open, or have opened, their first physical store in Macau since August.

Sam Lei, acting president and executive director of the Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), told reporters the initial goal is to attract more than 20 domestic and international brands.

He said this initiative will help stimulate local consumption, boost economic growth, and create new jobs in the community.

“In the future, we will continue to strengthen interdepartmental collaboration, intensify investment promotion efforts, and enhance support to effectively introduce a greater number of domestic and foreign brands,” Lei added.

According to IPIM, international brands must meet one or more of the following criteria: be listed among the Global Top 100 or the World’s Top 500 Brands; have operated for 10 years or more with their brand value ranked among the top 50 in the international market for similar products in the previous year; have established at least 10 stores in a minimum of three countries worldwide; or be signature brands recommended by chambers of commerce in Portuguese-speaking, Spanish-speaking, or other European countries.

Meanwhile, brands from mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, and Taiwan must have been in operation for at least five years and be ranked among the top 10 in their domestic market for similar products in the previous year.

Mainland Chinese brands must have at least five stores in major cities, or in five of the nine mainland cities within the Greater Bay Area (GBA).

Brands from Hong Kong SAR and Taiwan are required to have at least five stores in their own regions or in Mainland China.

The reimbursement subsidies are offered in two types and will be paid out in three installments.

First, a basic grant of up to MOP500,000 will be available to eligible brands to support the initiation and operating expenses of their first physical store in Macau.

Then, if eligible, an additional grant will be provided, varying according to the size of the business premises and the number of full-time local employees.

In addition, stores located in designated districts such as ZAPE, Toi San, Areia Preta, Iao Hon, Fai Chi Kei, San Kio, Barra, and Ilha Verde may also qualify for extra subsidies.

Total subsidies from the two types are capped at MOP1 million.

Administered by IPIM, the program is financed through the Industrial and Commercial Development Fund (FDIC) under the Economic and Technological Development Bureau (DSEDT).

The first phase of applications under the program runs from Nov. 1, 2025, to Jan. 31, 2026.