British Consul-General's interview with Macao Daily Times on 4 August

UK'S STRONG BUSINESS PRIORITIES IN MACAO

In an interview with Macao Daily Times (4 August), British Consul-General Andrew Seaton talked about Britain's priorities towards Macao, with an emphasis on the economic and business agenda. He mentioned the growing relationships between Britain and Macao in a number of business sectors including infrastructure, construction, architecture, gaming, retail, the creative industries and project management. In addition, he spoke about the business prospects in education, vocational and English language training as well as the important role played by the British Business Association in Macao.

When talking about the priorities of the UK government in Macao, Mr Seaton said, "We help British companies already in Macao to improve their businesses there and help new British companies who may be interested in Macao to pursue opportunities there .... In other direction, if there are any Macao companies who are looking to internationalise their business, we are interested in encouraging them to look to the UK as it is an excellent operating base in Europe... Clearly, we also have to help British nationals who get into difficulties in Macao...And we also take an interest in Macao's political development in the 'One Country, Two Systems' and how that is developing. That is of interest to us as it is to other members of the European Union."

Mr Seaton suggested Macau companies should use the UK as a destination to enter European markets. He said, "Macao has got quite a strong Europe orientation. I hope when they (Macao companies) start looking for doing business in Europe, they will follow the path that many companies have taken, and think of UK a very user-friendly and successful home for international investment in Europe. About 80% of all Hong Kong investment in Europe is in Britain. There are increasing numbers of Mainland companies in the UK now, with around 74 Chinese companies set up in Britain last year. So I expect Macao companies will go down the same path."

英國視澳門為重要商貿伙伴

英國駐香港及澳門總領事奚安竹於8月4日接受澳門每日時報訪問, 他強調英國重視與澳門之間在經濟及商業上的合作, 並提及英國與澳門在若干商業範疇上,包括基建, 建造業, 建築, 博彩, 零售, 創意工業及項目管理的關係漸趨緊密。此外, 他亦談及對教育, 職業培訓及英語教學方面的展望, 以及澳門英國商會的重要角色。

奚氏談及英國政府在澳門的優先重點工作時表示: 「我們協助已在澳門營商的英國公司改善業務, 以及協助有意在澳門開展業務的英國公司拓展商機...另一方面, 如果澳門企業希望業務國際化, 我們會鼓勵它們視英國為歐洲的理想營商基地...當然, 我們亦協助在澳門有需要的英國國民。像其他歐盟成員國一樣, 我們亦關注澳門在一國兩制下的政治發展。」

奚氏建議澳門企業利用英國作為進軍歐洲市場的平台。他表示:「澳門擁有深厚的歐洲背景, 我希望它們(澳門企業)打算在歐洲拓展業務時, 會跟隨眾多公司的做法, 視英國為歐洲便利營商投資的首選基地。現時香港企業在歐洲的投資有大約80%都在英國, 而且愈來愈多中國企業選擇英國投資, 例如去年內地公司已在英國展開大約74個投資項目, 因此我相信澳門企業會同樣跟隨相同做法(以英國為基地進軍歐洲市場)。」

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News & Politics

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• British
• Macao
• Consul
• General
• Business