Win-win business

Gaming operator SJM Holdings Ltd has launched its Macau SME Procurement Partnership Programme, attracting around 500 local SME representatives for a networking and enquiry session at the Macao Chamber of Commerce (MCC).
“We are actively looking for more outstanding local businesses to forge new paths with, and create win-win partnerships,” Angela Leong On Kei, Managing Director and Chief Administrative Officer at SJM stated at the programme launch press conference.
Marrying gaming resorts with SME’s
The programme was presented as looking for local “Micro Enterprises”, “Made in Macau” and “Young Entrepreneurs” to become business partners and suppliers of services and products for the group’s hotel operations, information technology, gaming operations, marketing, maintenance services, and food and beverage.
“Micro Enterprises” were described as companies registered at the Financial Services Bureau (DSF), with over 50 per cent of their share capital held by Macau residents, with no more than 15 employees and having been in operation for more than a year.
“Made in Macau” companies must have an industrial license, a Certificate of Origin and also have 50 per cent of their share capital held by Macau residents, however no limit for employees or number of years in operation.
“Young Entrepreneurs” were described as Macau business owners aged between 21 and 44.
Chan Tze Wai, Deputy Director of the Economic Services Bureau (DSE) stated at the event that over “80 per cent of SJM’s procurement is from local enterprises,” and that apart from implementing procurement measures to prioritise local products and services, the MSAR government will “continue to promote similar events, in order to create more opportunities for cooperation between integrated resorts and SME’s.”
It was also announced that a Business Matching Session on Hotel Operating Supplies and Food and Beverage is going to be held on September 19 at the Grand Lisboa Hotel.
Hard but worthwhile
Networking and enquiry sessions and business matching sessions took place after the press conference, in order to inform local business people of the requirements and business opportunities.
Representatives from the Bank of China Macau Branch, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC Macau) and Banco Nacional Ultramarine (BNU) were also present to advise SME’s on loan facilities.
Joao Bruxo, Sales Manager at the Macau branch of Portuguese wine-seller Topwines has already attended procurement events at the Galaxy, Wynn and MGM resorts, telling Business Daily “they are a good way for Macau SME’s to understand how hotels do business and a way to create bridges for future deals”.
“It can be a long process and not very straightforward, but these events can explain how the system works. I’ll probably attend the event in September too,” Bruxo told Business Daily.
For Lisa Acconci, from Party and Cakes Xpress, this is the second procurement event she has attended, after the Galaxy Entertainment Group Food and Beverage business matching session held last month.
“We have been a distributor for cake related products in Macau for an American company called Wilton for almost seven years. Right now we are providing products for the Melco group hotels,” Acconci told Business Daily.
Acconci agrees the application process can be challenging, describing the application forms as being “as big as a book”, but also agrees that procurement events are “a good idea and a great chance for business”.
The procurement programme was organised by SJM, in cooperation with the Macao Chamber of Commerce and with support from the DSE, the Macau Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) and the Macau Productivity and Technology Transfer Center (CPTTM).