FMCC Gala 2024 celebrates leaders in sustainability

The France Macau Chamber of Commerce (FMCC) celebrated significant strides in sustainability at its annual charity gala dinner Friday night.

Held in the Grand Ballroom of MGM Macau, the event recognized the winners of the Macau ESG Awards 2024, which honor organizations excelling in Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) initiatives across the region.

This year’s awards highlighted contributions across three categories: Best NGO, awarded to Oxfam in Macau for impactful projects like “Paper Recycling and Supporting the Paper Recycling Workers” and the “Free Tutorial Project for Children from Low-Income Families”; Best SME, presented to C&C Lawyers and Notaries; and Best Project, which went to MGM for its comprehensive sustainability policy.

Notably, MGM Cotai achieved a three-star green building certification and the ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management certification.

FMCC chairman Rutger Verschuren expressed gratitude to all nominees and winners, emphasizing their dedication to ESG principles.

“These awards are vital for fostering positive change, encouraging other businesses to emulate this year’s exemplary leadership,” he said.

The gala drew around 300 VIPs, executives, and government officials from Macau, Hong Kong, and the Greater Bay Area to commemorate 60 years of Sino-French diplomatic relations.

Notable attendees included Christile Drulhe, the Consul General of France in Hong Kong and Macau; Zhang Guanyu, deputy director-General of the Economic Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR; Maria Helena Senna Fernandes, director of the Macao Government Tourism Office; and Tai Kin Ip, director of the Economic and Technological Development Bureau.

The gala also raised MOP60,910 for Oxfam’s “Paper Recycling” initiative aimed at enhancing sustainable practices and environmental stewardship in Macau through community involvement and education.

This year’s event commemorated six decades of Sino-French diplomatic relations.

Guests enjoyed performances by the Sino-French jazz band Alice & The Wanderers – who flew in from Shanghai.

Verschuren noted, “This event demonstrates our chamber’s commitment to fostering sustainability, innovation and cross-cultural collaboration in Macau.”

A key announcement during the evening was the introduction of “LeBooster Macau Hengqin,” a new initiative designed to accelerate international business development aligned with Macau’s diversification goals.

This platform will provide services such as market research, product testing, company setup and office space to support French and other global companies expanding their presence in Macau and Hengqin.

The project underscores FMCC’s commitment to driving economic growth and innovation within the Greater Bay Area as a dynamic business hub. Nadia Shaw