Secretary visits Lisbon for business policy briefing

The Secretary for Economy and Finance, Lionel Leong, visited Portugal last week to learn more about the Portuguese government’s new policies to support start-ups and help young entrepreneurs launch their own businesses.

During the official visit to Lisbon, Leong and the Macau delegation – accompanied by Portugal’s Secretary of State of Industry, João Vasconcelos – toured several government-backed venture capital firms investing in innovative start-ups and new projects related to tourism and hospitality.

Leong met representatives from a number of the venture capital firms, where he was briefed on companies’ requirements and application procedures when selecting their respective investments, as cited in a statement issued by the Government Information Bureau.

The MSAR delegation also visited a business center for Lisbon start-
ups that provides one-stop support services for markets such as China, Brazil, Angola and Europe. The center offers training, co-working spaces and networking events.

The secretary noted that the Portuguese government has stepped up efforts to enhance the country’s business environment and support entrepreneurship.

Leong also met with the Chairman of AICEP Portugal Global, Miguel Frasquilho, to discuss trade and investment, as well as Portugal’s Secretary of State Assistant and of Environment, José Mendes, to exchange views on green vehicles and boosting Macau’s role as a bridge platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries on environmental matters.

According to the bureau, the secretary invited Mendes to attend the Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum and Exhibition (MIECF), which will take place in Macau from March 30 to April 1 next year.

Other members of the SAR government delegation included the director of the Macao Economic and Trade Office to the European Union in Brussels, O Tin Lin, the director of the Macao Economic Services, Tai Kin Ip, and the executive director of the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, Gloria Batalha Ung.