MECC 1st anniversary Macau and EU set to deepen cooperation

The Head of the Trade Section of the EU Office to Hong Kong and Macau, Alessandro Paolicchi, has vowed for deeper business cooperation between the European Union countries and the MSAR. At a cocktail reception to celebrate the Macau European Chamber of Commerce’s first anniversary, he acknowledged that bilateral trade in 2013 has “made the EU the second largest exporter to Macau, accounting for 23 percent of Macau’s total imports.”
He believes that deeper business cooperation will help the territory achieve its long-time goal of diversifying its economy.
“A platform for regular dialogues between EU businesses and the Macau government should be established to better reflect the dynamic business situation and issues,” he said.
Bilateral EU-Macau trade recorded strong growth in 2013, the EU Office said in a statement. Total bilateral trade increased by 28.3 percent reaching EUR656.5 million; while EU exports to Macau rose by 37 percent to EUR542 million last year.
Honorary chairman of the Macau European Chamber of Commerce (MECC) and SJM’s CEO, Mr Ambrose So, stressed how MECC has played a role in strengthening cooperation between Macau and the EU over the past year. “MECC has quickly established itself as the forefront of European business and culture in Macau in its first year,” he said.
Mr So stated that SJM will continue to support MECC’s activities and its determination to strengthen Macau-European ties.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the event, SJM’s CEO said he hopes the Chamber will move forward while bringing a taste of European culture and businesses to the city. He stressed that SJM likewise hopes to reinforce ties with Europe, as the company will be showcasing two renowned European brands in its first Cotai resort, the Lisboa Palace.
“We are showcasing two European-style hotels in Macau, Versace and Karl Lagerfeld. We will keep supporting this approach, so that entertainment, design and culture are more diversified,” he said.
MECC’s honorary chairman and Consul General of Portugal to Macau and Hong Kong, Mr Vitor Sereno, also acknowledged that EU-Macau relations have intensified. He stressed that, “during crisis management, partnerships are one of the most valuable assets that regions, countries, organizations and individuals can rely on.”
He too vowed for deeper cooperation between the two regions, stating MECC can play an important role in furthering partnerships.
The cocktail celebration for MECC’s first anniversary took place yesterday at Clube Militar. The Head of the EU Office to Hong Kong and Macau, Mr Vincent Piket, will be in Macau on November 27 to attend a luncheon, where he’s due to highlight Europe’s Asia agenda now that the European Parliament and the European Commission are headed by new teams.