Gov’t pushes to bring Macau talent home for Greater Bay Area growth

The local government has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining active communication with Macau residents living abroad and encouraging talent to return for local development, with an emphasis on motivating them to actively participate in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area.

The Islands District Community Services Consultative Council held a regular closed-door meeting recently, inviting government officials to brief members on the situation of local residents returning to develop their careers after graduating abroad.

Officials from the Education and Youth Development Bureau (DSEDJ), quoted by the council at a post-meeting press briefing, said that the bureau “has maintained ongoing communication with Macau youth studying and working overseas,” while a new information platform for returnees has been established to help those interested in returning to the city gain a comprehensive understanding of local living conditions and development information.

According to the officials, the platform covers a wide range of areas, including business startups, employment, industry overviews, social security, taxation, education, health and welfare, transport, housing and infrastructure, cultural and recreational activities, re-entry procedures, and case studies of returning talent.

The council also noted that the government has long maintained close contact with Macau youth studying and working abroad, with dedicated support programs for students pursuing studies overseas. Taking Macau students in Portugal as an example, relevant authorities maintain regular communication with them and organize summer exchange programs to help them understand national conditions and the current state of various industries in Macau.

The council added that the Talent Development Committee also uses various events and activities to promote Macau’s development opportunities to local residents abroad, explaining the latest developments in Macau and Hengqin, and encouraging overseas Macau residents to return, participate in Greater Bay Area development, and integrate into the nation’s overall development.

According to available information, the government’s talent certification incentive scheme – which aims to encourage residents to obtain various professional and vocational certifications to enhance their competitiveness and build a talent pool for the region – has awarded benefits to 5,186 recipients so far, including 3,156 under the general talent scheme, 972 in modern finance, and 1,058 in information technology.