On October 22, the Permanent Secretariat of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao) (Forum Macao) organized the Roundtable Seminar of SMEs from China and Portuguese-Speaking Countries at Cotai Expo, The Venetian Macao. The seminar focused on opportunities and challenges for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the digital economy. It was attended by over 140 people, including Yan Dong, Vice Minister of Commerce of China; Tai Kin Ip, Secretary for Economy and Finance of the Macao SAR Government; Fernanda Gomes de Paula, National Secretary of Aquaculture of the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture of Brazil; João Moura, Secretary of State for Agriculture of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries of Portugal; leaders of business associations and representatives of enterprises from mainland China, Portuguese-speaking countries (PSCs), and Macao; and representatives of international organizations. Ji Xianzheng, Secretary-General of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, presided over the seminar.

In his speech, Vice Minister Yan Dong pointed out that the digital economy offers unprecedented opportunities for SMEs to grow. In 2024, China’s cross-border e-commerce imports and exports totaled RMB 2.63 trillion, marking a 10.8% year-on-year increase. China is willing to collaborate with PSCs to strengthen digital infrastructure development, enhance the digital innovation and transformation capabilities of SMEs, and assist them in integrating into global industrial, supply, and value chains in the digital economy. Through the “Macao + Hengqin” platform, China will also help Chinese SMEs access PSC markets and promote PSC products in China.

Secretary Tai Kin Ip stated in his speech that the Macao SAR Government will continue to strengthen the role of the China-PSC platform in assisting enterprises from PSCs in seizing opportunities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, promoting all-around, mutually beneficial cooperation between China and PSCs, and injecting new momentum into economic and trade cooperation. National Secretary Fernanda Gomes de Paula noted that Brazil’s aquaculture sector consists mainly of small-scale producers. Aquaculture is a vital economic activity that holds significant strategic importance for social development. She called for continued investment in sustainable technologies, enhanced training for small-scale producers, and robust policy support. Secretary of State João Moura emphasized Macao’s key role as a platform for fostering exchanges and cooperation between China and PSCs. He mentioned that Portugal will promote agricultural modernization through innovation and digital transformation, explore new cooperation opportunities, and advance the development of bilateral relations with China.

During the discussion session, the following attendees engaged in an in-depth dialogue on policy guidance and implementation strategies for the digital transformation of SMEs: Ensa Indjai, Director General of Telecommunications and Infrastructure at the Ministry of Telecommunications and Digital Economy of Guinea-Bissau; Benjamin Mitogo Bielo, President of the Chamber of Commerce of Equatorial Guinea; Professor Virginia Dignum, Member of the United Nations High-Level Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence and Senior Advisor to the Wallenberg Foundations; Tong Kai Chung, President of the Macau Institute of Management; Ma Li, President of the China-Africa Development Fund; and Zhang Hui, President of Xuzhou Zhibo Locomotive Co., Ltd. They offered insights on how to promote the development of SMEs from China and PSCs in the digital economy. Officials from China and PSCs who participated in the Colloquium on the Digital Economy and the Colloquium on Capacity Building for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises at the Training Center of Forum Macao also joined the roundtable, facilitating further knowledge sharing and interaction.