MECC lauds progression of city’s multiculturalism

Vitor Sereno speaks during the event

The Macau European Chamber of Commerce (MECC) held its 2018 Gala Dinner at the Grand Lisboa last Friday.

The fifth annual occurrence of its kind, the British-Irish themed dinner celebrated the endeavors of the European Union (EU) and Macau communities in strengthening their bilateral ties.

Continuing its tradition, MECC presented the MECC Awards for Euroexcellence in Food and Beverage, Luxury and Innovation to recognize Macanese companies which uphold high European standards and quality, contributing to the sustainable development of Macau.

First presented in 2015, the awards encourage local enterprises to engage in Sino-Western collaboration, create new international business opportunities, and sustain Macau’s rich history of cross-cultural exchange.

Vitor Sereno, Honorary Chairman of MECC and Consul General of Portugal to Macau and Hong Kong said, “Relations between Macau and the EU have been long and successful; in addition to political, trade and economic ties, we have also witnessed an expansion of relations in culture, education and environment. The environment is one of the areas with the most potential for cooperation, since Macau has [an increasing number] of infrastructure projects in various sectors. EU companies can play a major role in providing expertise and services for Macau projects and boosting overall competiveness. Since Macau has been designated as the platform between China and the Portuguese- speaking countries, lots of efforts [have been] made to strengthen the city’s legal system and cultivate professionals.”

“For the future, the EU and its companies should continue to work closely with Macau government to diversify the economy, improve sustainability and promote bilateral trade and investment flows.”

Carmen Cano de Lasala, head of the Office of the EU to Hong Kong and Macao, noted that Europe remains a key partner to Macau, China and other Asian partners.  She noted that the EU is more indispensable than ever and ready to engage with the world, including Macau.

In addition, she said that the EU appreciates the MSAR’s efforts to pursue economic diversification and reiterated Macau’s willingness to play a positive role by providing expertise to EU businesses.

Kevin Thompson, president of the Board of Directors of MECC, said in his speech: “This year a significant milestone will be reached, an economic boost projected with the opening of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge. With the hardware for connectivity in place, it is vital that the software keeps pace and that we continue to attract innovative European businesses, cultivate talent and generate an exchange of ideas amongst all Macau’s business communities.”

The winners of this year’s MECC Awards for Euroexcellence were the Educational Restaurant of the Institute for Tourism Studies (MECC Award for Euroexcellence in Food and Beverage), Mandarin Oriental (MECC Award for Euroexcellence in Luxury), and MGM Cotai (MECC Award for Euroexcellence in Innovation).