Think tank urges inclusion of more people-friendly programs in Policy Address

A think tank has indicated that Macau’s economy is showing signs of steady recovery this year, and ahead of the new Policy Address set to be released by the government tomorrow, lawmakers have expressed expectations for additional measures aimed at benefiting residents and businesses, further improving people’s livelihoods.

The Collective Wisdom Policy Center recently hosted a forum previewing the 2026 Policy Address, where legislator Ngan Iek Hang highlighted Macau’s steady economic recovery so far this year.

He expressed hope that the government will continue to advance efforts to improve residents’ livelihoods and explore the introduction of more people-friendly and business-friendly policies within fiscal constraints. The legislator emphasized the need for fiscal and tax policies to support appropriate economic diversification, while acknowledging that Macau still faces multiple challenges.

He pointed out issues such as the development of a diversified economy, structural employment problems, and the need for talent transformation, which require urgent attention.

Ngan recommended that the government build on existing industrial planning to further refine its medium- and long-term specialized plans for emerging industries, establish a government industrial fund and a technology achievement transformation guidance fund, and explore fiscal and tax policies to support economic diversification.

His colleague, Leong Hong Sai, outlined four key directions: systematically organizing a cross-departmental list of responsibilities and fully integrating it into the e-government platform; refining supporting regulations for the Urban Renewal Law; accelerating the reconstruction of the Iao Hon Estate project; and advancing the planning of the Light Rapid Transit (LRT) West Line.

Among the attendees, Chan Kin Sun, an assistant professor at the University of Macau (UM), emphasized that Macau is at a critical juncture in its transition from traditional administration to digital governance.

He proposed leveraging “digital nerve centers” and “urban cultural resilience” as dual drivers for Macau’s modernization, aiming to forge a new smart city paradigm. This initiative includes upgrading existing platforms like “Macao One Account” and “Business and Associations Platforms” from simple convenience tools into comprehensive governance hubs.