Macau eyes hosting global web summit after Rio visit

The Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) attended Web Summit Rio 2025 recently to explore the possibility of bringing the global technology conference to Macau, according to an official statement.

The 2025 edition, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, attracted over 34,000 attendees, including tech founders, investors, and executives.

This year’s summit focused on emerging tech trends such as AI, fintech, smart cities, and Web3 with global implications – some of which hold particular relevance for Macau’s push toward economic diversification, smart city development, and digital transformation.

During the summit, IPIM representatives met with Web Summit co-founder Paddy Cosgrave, who recalled the positive impression Macau made during the F.ounders event in 2018.

“Macau’s world-class infrastructure for hosting MICE events and its strategic location within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area make it an ideal venue,” Cosgrave said.

Following these discussions, the organizers expressed interest in conducting site inspections in Macau to further explore hosting possibilities.

Founded in Dublin in 2009, the Web Summit is currently held in Europe, Qatar, Rio de Janeiro, and Vancouver. The organizers plan to launch the first Asian edition in 2026, aiming to expand their global reach. NS