The administrative organizations of the Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin were inaugurated on Friday. Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao have once again grabbed the limelight from businessmen and investors from around the world, particularly the Portuguese speaking countries (PSCs).

Henry Osvald is the President at BraCham. Having been in China since 2004, he started his own business specializing in technical development. Osvald shared his view on the plan in an exclusive interview with Newsgd.com & GDToday.

Education and talent fundamental to Macao’s diversified development

Speaking of the Macao’s appropriate economic diversification, Osvald recollected his first impression of China.

When Osvald came to China to set up his factory, he was impressed with not only the infrastructure, but also how China can nurture talent in terms of technical knowledge.

“China has been showing the world that by investing in education, you can really grow fast because you have all the qualified resources, with reputed universities such as Tsinghua University and Fudan University.” Osvald believes Macao, with a long history of international communication, could also go in the same direction and be a perfect hub to attract foreigners, especially students.

According to the general plan for building the Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, the strategic position of the zone is to boost Macao’s appropriate economic diversification. The plan also encourages Macao to develop sci-tech research and development and high-end manufacturing.

Henry thinks Macao also needs to train technicians specializing in machinery, software, AI and so on, so that foreign companies can grow within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).

Knowing that Macao University already has a campus in Hengqin, Osvald said: “I'm sure the cooperation zone will be a great hub in terms of education. With Portuguese-speaking people, it can attract bright minds from universities in Brazil so they can join local students and entrepreneurs to develop technology.”

GBA is still a huge market for consuming and manufacturing

“I believe Macao can play an important role in software, finance, business, and education. Zhuhai can be the place to house manufacturers and tech hubs.”

Osvald has been to Hengqin with a delegation. They visited the Latin America Integrated Bonded Logistics Hub, and Traditional Chinese Medicine Science and Technology Industrial Park of Co-operation between Guangdong and Macao.

Recalling this visit, he said: “The infrastructure that has already been built drew our attention, for example, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge,” adding “there's a huge potential now that Macao is going to get more involved, as the region has more experience in dealing with PSCs in Latin American countries.”

According to Osvald, there about 38 Brazilian enterprises in Guangdong, most of them are based in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Dongguan and Zhuhai, engaged in food and garments, construction material, electric appliances, digital technology and automation businesses.

“Guangdong is an economic powerhouse. By connecting the strengths in terms of human resources in Macao and Hong Kong, which boasts great business and finance backgrounds, this area will attract foreign companies to come to China because this is still a huge market for consuming and manufacturing for all these years”, he added.

Cantonese food might be an attraction for PSCs talent

Osvald said, “China is one of the best places in the world now in terms of safety, infrastructure, and food. A lot of people don't know the real Chinese food, and don’t know it’s a safe and clean place, where they would be welcomed.”

He concluded: “I'm sure the people in PSCs would love it, once you understand how easy online shopping in China is, you see that you don't need actually an area with big supermarkets or big shopping malls, and there are a lot of bars and restaurants.”

Reporter| Keane

Author| Hannah Zhou, Huang Yanting (intern)

Poster| Mia

Editor| Wing, Jerry