IPIM office in Lisbon in 2017 only?

The Chief Executive did not seize on any of the three primary moments of his official trip to Lisbon to announce the timing of the opening of the new IPIM [Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute] office in Portugal. The opening is a promise made by the Institute last year, when Glória Batalha Ung – executive member of IPIM – said it would become operational in the second or third quarter of 2016. The opening of the first office of IPIM outside China would have been an excellent moment to be included in the Chief Executive’s agenda or, at least, to announce whether it would still happen this year. Nothing happened, which most likely means a delay in the project. Two weeks ago Business Daily contacted IPIM to confirm the information but has yet to receive any confirmation. In fact, the executive member of the Macau Trade and Investment Promotion Institute announced at the same time that a separate new office in Sao Paulo, Brazil, would also be opening this year. The idea is that in the initial phase the two new offices would support local businesses – mainly small and medium-sized enterprises – to do business in the Portuguese-speaking countries. As far as we can tell, IPIM has not given up on the office in Portugal, it’s just failed to make the installation, including that of staff, on time: 2017 will now be the new forecast. Numerous benefits The office in Lisbon will be a kind of symbol of the good relations between Macau and Portugal and a sign to show how Macau bets on the idea of a platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. These messages were transmitted several times in the Chief Executive’s meetings, last Monday. To the Portuguese President, Chief Executive Chui Sai On said there will be more room for co-operation with Portugal from now on. Forum As an example, the leader of the MSAR Government indicated that the success of Forum Macau will bring more opportunities for co-operation between Macau and Portugal. According to the Government Information Bureau (GCS) report, the Portuguese President also highlighted the 5th Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries as a good example of the friendship between China, Portugal and Macau. Before the meeting with Marcelo Rebelo Sousa, Chui Sai On received from the Portuguese Prime Minister confirmation of his trip to Macau, to assist in the 5th Ministerial Conference, saying that this meeting will bring numerous benefits to strengthen and fortify Portugal-China and Portugal-Macau relations. Antonio Costa, the chief of the Portuguese Government, is quoted as having said that adequate diversification of the economy of Macau not only opens one more door to Portugal, in the area of co-operation, but will also promote the exchange with China and Macau in the fields of economics and technological innovation. In the meeting with Mr. Costa, the GCS said Chui Sai On “welcomed the success of Portugal”, and stressed the commitment of Macau in the globalisation of science and technology. The Chief Executive said he believed in the increased co-operation between the two territories as reinforcement of the diversified development of Macau, adding that he plans to make efforts to promote exchanges between Chinese and Portuguese students, and will analyse a possible increase in scholarships. The trip to Lisbon ended yesterday night with a dinner with young people from Macau studying in Portugal “in order to better understand their needs while living and studying overseas”. Chui Sai On and his small delegation will board the airplane today in Lisbon and tomorrow they will be in Macau, after a trip of six days (four taken up by travel).