Premier Li Keqiang announced Bejings 19 MSAR-favouring measures yesterday upon wrapping up his three-day trip to the city, which included confirmation of the implementation of Macau vehicles entering Hengqin by the end of the year and the Free Travel Yacht Scheme with Guangdong Province within the first half of next year.
The top official made the announcement whilst conferring with the MSAR Government and various society and business members yesterday morning in the Macau East Asian Dome, prior to his departure for Beijing.
The 19 measures include support for the MSAR to set up a renminbi clearing centre for Portuguese-speaking countries as well as an export credit insurance system; establishing the headquarters of the Sino-Luso Development Fund in the MSAR; developing the marine economy; boosting businesses in the Pearl Delta River region wishing to invest in Macau as well as boosting large-scale Chinese e-commerce companies wanting to co-operate with local enterprises wishing to expand the e-commerce market in Lusophone countries.
The Chinese premier noted in the meeting that these policies are expected to support the development of the citys finance industry, merchandise and service trade. In addition, he believes the set-up of the Sino-Luso Development Fund headquarters in Macau can help fund national projects in the Portuguese-speaking countries.
The Beijing official also stressed that the central government affirmed the work of the MSAR Government, adding Beijing has noted the city is suffering temporary pains in order to transform its economic structure.
But he expressed his confidence in the citys economic development, noting Macau still has the potential to go further. Commenting upon the citys current economic downturn as a risk and a challenge, Mr. Li said the city should boost the substantiality and diversification of its economy.
Arriving in the Special Administrative Region on Monday, the Chinese premier attended 48 events during the three days, the director of the central governments Liaison Office in Macau, Wang Zhiming, revealed yesterday.
The premier, apart from attending activities of the Sino-Luso forum, met the local community during the three days, including visiting schools, families and tourist districts.
The 19 measures announced yesterday encourage the MSAR to seek co-operation with the Silk Road Fund, the Sino-Latin American Production Co-operation Investment Fund and China-Africa Development Fund.
| The Sino-Luso Development Fund The establishment of the headquarters of the Sino-Luso Development Fund in the MSAR is expected to be completed this year, the president of the Fund, Chi Jianxin, revealed on the sidelines of the 5th Ministerial Conference business conference yesterday. According to news agency Lusa, he said the new establishment suggests a relocation of the Funds current headquarters from Beijing to the MSAR as the city is considered a better place for the disclosures to potential interested parties receiving funding. Mr. Chi added that the Fund would start discussions with local government with regard to the organisation, work procedures, structure and tax regulations of the Fund being based in Macau.Created in 2013, the Fund seeks to support companies from Mainland China and Macau wishing to invest in Portuguese-speaking countries and attracting Lusophone projects to China. This Fund is market-oriented. It is fully commercially operated, so we need to evaluate the value of the project. Some companies discussed investment with us but failed to provide their basic business plans and feasibility studies, the president said. Thats why we decided to move the headquarters of the Fund to Macau making it easier to discuss and contact potential partners, Mr. Chi added. According to Lusa, the Fund has only approved funding for one Angolan investment project in China and one project of Chinese investment in Mozambique since its establishment, involving a total of US$16.5 million (MOP2 million). N.M. |
