Macau's concessionaires to chip in govt's digital transformation program
The Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR) government, in collaboration with the city’s six concessionaires, is taking a major step toward supporting the digital transformation of local businesses. Through the SME Digitalization Support Services 2025 program, 1,500 Macau enterprises across the retail, catering, and lifestyle services sectors will be assisted in adopting digital systems and enhancing their business models.
The government’s initiative, launched at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, is designed to help SMEs thrive in an increasingly digitalised world. Initially, only the government invested in the program, followed by two Macau concessionaires joining last year.
Government and concessionaires’ contribution
The government has committed approximately MOP$19 million (about US$2.4 million) to the initiative. This budget aims to ensure that the program can reach a significant number of SMEs in need of support. While the specifics of the contributions from the concessionaires remain undisclosed, Macau Economic and Technological Development Bureau (DSEDT) deputy director Chan Chou Weng said the amount of money invested by them was “considerable”. The actual subsidies provided by the concessionaires are not publicly available.
This year’s program is specifically designed for SMEs in the retail, food and beverage, and lifestyle services sectors. Businesses within these categories can apply for support, provided they meet certain criteria set by the government and concessionaires. Applications for the same will be accepted in two phases in June and November for a total of 1,500 support quotas.
Two phases of the program
The SME Digitalization Support Services 2025 program is structured in two distinct parts.
- Phase 1: Digital Business Awareness Training This phase includes training workshops designed to increase digital literacy among SME owners and staff.
- Phase 2: Provision of Digital Systems and Solutions In this phase, eligible businesses will receive practical support in the form of digital systems and solutions, with a maximum value of MOP$18,000.
This is not the first time that the six concessionaires have stepped in to help with government initiatives. The government had organised three large-scale events for this year’s Lunar New Year, with the region’s six concessionaires to chip in a combined MOP$18 million. The concessionaires were responsible for 51.7 percent of the expenditure of the three events, which have an overall budget of approximately MOP$34.8 million.
