Lawmakers concerned about SMEs’ survival in a scenario of spending decline

Ella Lei

Several lawmakers have expressed concerns about the current economic situation and the decline in visitor spending, calling on the government to find a solution to support the survival of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that are in a critical condition.

Taking the period before the agenda of yesterday’s Legislative Assembly (AL) session, Ip Sio Kai, Ella Lei, and Ngan Iek Hang all addressed the matter in separate spoken inquiries to the government.

Ip noted the recent results on visitor spending, calling on the government to utilize a so-called “ticket economy” scheme. In this system, people who are holders of an event ticket (concert, sports, or other) can obtain discounts on other purchases. This system is often used to boost sales during large-scale events.

He noted that this type of scheme has already proven its effectiveness in other cities and countries.

In her inquiry, Lei also noted that local authorities should consider launching new community consumption carnivals and optimizing existing promotional activities. The lawmaker noted that there are some positive effects, but these are slow, and to produce the desired effect, it is necessary to extend the duration of these activities and promotions.

Ip Sio Kai

The same lawmaker also called on the government to continue seeking support from the six gaming concessionaires for organizing large-scale events that can attract more visitors and generate additional consumption, particularly in the older districts, to boost the local economy.

On the other hand, Ngan called on the government to quickly proceed with an evaluation of the effectiveness of the latest consumer rewards programs and draft new and improved plans and measures to refine the system, boost the community economy, and enhance overall consumption.

Other lawmakers, such as Leong Sun Iok and Lei Chan U, also addressed similar matters but called for the acceleration of the economy’s diversification so that youngsters can have more job opportunities and better career paths.

Leong noted that Macau is undergoing a period of adjustment to its economic structure and that the employment environment has also changed, creating more employment difficulties for young and middle-aged people.

Ngan Iek Hang

In Leong’s opinion, these shortcomings and difficulties are also causing social conflicts, noting that the diversification of the economy cannot be separated from the creation of a high-quality workforce.

Noting the information provided during the policy address on this field, Leong said he hopes that data on employment can be effectively collected and addressed, as he claims there exists a significant difference between “employment data” (people with a job) and the “feeling of accomplishment at work” (people who are happy with their jobs), as a way of promoting high-quality employment.

On the same matter, Lei Chan U called for better planning, guidance, and conversion schemes tailored to different people and generations, noting that there is a need to adjust and address the diverse needs of various groups continually.

He noted that the development of emerging industries is a time-consuming process. While these new industries might bring more opportunities for future generations, it is necessary to address the pressing needs of the current generation concurrently with preparing for the future.