Macau (MNA) – United States Consul General to Hong Kong and Macau, Kurt W. Tong, has told MNA that he sees most of the interests the United States holds in Macau as mostly business-related.
Tong said that the main aim is to increase the exports United States provides to Macau.
“Last year, we exported less than a billion dollars to Macau. We could do more, especially in food and beverages. United States came in as the number five source of imports to Macau. We are number two in Hong Kong, so it shows we can be better.”
In 2018, the United States had exported US$602 million (MOP4.87 billion) worth of goods to Macau.
“France exports more to Macau than the United States, and we don’t like losing to the French,” the diplomat quipped. “American wine is better. Our products are great – other high-end food products, such as cheese and meat.”
Another area that the diplomat sees as an opportunity is sales of energy equipment.
According to Mr. Tong, the top export to Macau that the United States had provided was aircraft parts to Macau International Airport.
At the present moment, the amount of students from Macau studying in the United States was around 550 pupils, which is a number that Mr. Tong hopes to double, as well as to tie up collaborations between universities in Macau and the United States.
In addition, the medical industry was one that Mr. Tong sees as a good opportunity for collaboration. “We have heard that there have been some discussion between people in Macau and the United States about medicine and medical services as well. For the western side of the Pearl River, I think there is room for more sophisticated hospitals and medical services there.”
Regarding the tariffs set up between the United States and China, the diplomat says that he hopes that there would not be a lasting effect, adding that it is the aim of the United States to reach a mutually beneficial deal.
