Local SME Genyield: From sub-contractor on Sands Macao project to successful long-term partnership with Sands China
Established in 1989, local construction company Genyield Construction Co., Ltd. has a history of over 33 years. At first, the company was mainly involved in civil engineering infrastructure projects for government and public utilities, including the Ká Hó port, the Ká Hó Power station, the Macau International Airport Building, and the old campus of the University of Macau Sino-Luso Building and its parking lot. The SME’s project experience accumulated as the number of construction projects increased. After the 1999 Macao handover, Genyield expanded its business scope to external wall renovation, billboard installation, and building maintenance, among other projects.
After the liberalization of Macao’s gaming industry, Sands China opened Sands Macao in 2004. Rooted in Macao for two decades now, Sands China brought its valuable experience in international construction standards, construction control, and quality management to Macao’s construction industry, which has benefited its local SME partners.
Sensing the business opportunity of new resort construction, Genyield began participating in some of the construction work of Sands Macao as a sub-contractor. Then in 2006, before the opening of The Venetian Macao, Genyield became a construction contractor for The Venetian Macao’s shuttle bus parking area. The long-term collaboration between the two parties thus began.
One of the more recent outstanding projects completed by Genyield was the steel structure erection of The Parisian Macao’s Eiffel Tower. It is the first steel structure tower in Macao and was very complicated to construct. Genyield nevertheless completed the project on time. In 2015, the local construction company was recognized with a Sands Supplier Excellence Award by Sands China Ltd. for its valued ongoing partnership and its excellent performance. Then in 2022, Genyield was once again a winner for its continuing efforts in providing excellent and sustainable service.
Ben Yeung, an executive director of projects at Sands China, spoke highly of Genyield: “They are responsible and pay attention to the details of each project, [so] we have maintained a long-term partnership.”
With past engineering experience, Genyield has been affirmed and recognized by clients in all aspects of project quality monitoring and project management. Genyield’s abundant experience in construction work, especially in metal structures, impressed Sands China, so the SME was later invited to take part in the steel structure project of The Londoner Macao, Sands China’s newest integrated resort.
With a unique understanding and skills in metal roofing works, Genyield has also completed the repair and replacement of about 15,000 square meters of metal roofing of The Venetian Macao’s Cotai Expo. The replacement project was challenging: the construction was conducted in the rainy season and thus some waterproofing measures were needed. Meanwhile, it was necessary to ensure the normal operation of the indoor venue.
Genyield replaced the existing imported materials with locally designed and produced materials that are waterproof, can withstand strong winds from typhoons, and meet international standards. The completion of this project in 2022 is what led to Genyield’s second Sands China Supplier Excellence Award. Additionally, the project also earned Sands China and Genyield a gold award for construction waterproofing by the China National Building Waterproof Association.
Danny Cheung, managing director of Genyield, said: “After the partnership with Sands China, our company has become more comprehensive and diversified, providing more opportunities for staff to enhance their skills, which further enhanced the company’s competitiveness in the market and developed its business.”
He added that with the booming tourism industry and the increase in the number of construction projects, his company continues to hire more staff, with the peak number of employees reaching nearly 100, including engineering management and the construction team.
“Sands China has been rooted in Macao for 20 years and has grown up together with local construction companies,” said Yeung. He recalled that local construction companies were relatively weak in paperwork in the past. But after more than a decade of adaptation, learning, and development, they are much more flexible and capable of meeting project requirements and users’ needs. “While local construction companies are constantly improving in experience, professionalism, and strength, they have an advantage over foreign construction companies in terms of human resources and maintenance services,” he added.
As a continuing supporter of local SMEs, Sands China management encourages local enterprises to take the initiative and communicate with customers, and bring in new technologies or materials from the industry to increase business opportunities – so that local SMEs can continue to grow hand-in-hand with integrated resort operators as Macao continues its development as a world center of tourism and leisure.
