Home › Travel Guides › Asia Travel Guide › China › Macau › Doing business & staying in touch

Doing business & staying in touch

Businesspeople should dress smartly. Business cards are essential; Chinese people always hand business cards (or any piece of paper) with two hands, sometimes accompanied by a slight lowering of the head. Using just one hand may be interpreted as rudeness. Appointments should be made in advance and punctuality is appreciated. The World Trade Center (tel: 2872 7666; website: www.wtc-macau.com) offers assistance and various facilities for businesses, including a VIP Club restaurant.

Most government offices are open from 0900 to 1300 and 1500 to 1730 or 1745 on weekdays. Banks normally open from 0900 to 1700 weekdays and to 1300 on Saturday.

Office hours: 

Mon-Fri 0900-1300 and 1500-1730 and Sat 0900-1230.

Economy: 

Macau reverted to Chinese rule in December 1999, and has since experienced a transformation in its economic fortunes. Like Hong Kong, Macau has long been an important distribution outlet for Chinese products. Agriculture is negligible with few natural resources, but the territory has an active manufacturing and export sector. Macau recovered well after the Asian financial crisis and 2001 global downturn.

Its economy has surged ahead thanks to gambling, its GDP topping 10% in 2006. Gaming receipts now outstrip even those of Las Vegas, and a massive casino resort construction boom has been under way since 2003, with large Las Vegas operators investing heavily. The associated tourism has become a major income source, with gross gambling revenues of US$10.34 billion in 2007.

The Sino-Portuguese agreement, under which Macau reverted to Chinese rule in December 1999, guarantees the continuation of Macau's economic autonomy for 50 years.
Major meetings venues include the Macau Tower Conference Centre (www.macautower.com.mo), the world's 10th highest freestanding building, which also features a revolving restaurant, entertainment area and shopping facilities. Many of the large new hotels that have opened in the past three years, including The Venetian, MGM Grand and Wynn Macau, have state-of-the art meeting and dining facilities.

GDP: 

US$19.2 billion (2007).

Main exports: 

Clothing, textiles, footwear, toys and electronics.

Main imports: 

Raw materials and semi-manufactured goods, consumer goods (food, drinks and tobacco), capital goods, mineral fuels and oil.

Main trading partners: 

China (PR), Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, USA and Taiwan.

Telephone: 

International facilities are available at the General Post Office at Leal Senado Square, Macau City, the Central Post Offices in Taipa and Colôane, as well as all phone booths.

Mobile phone: 

Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is good.

Internet: 

Internet facilities are available at the UNESCO centre and the central library at Macau and its branches. There are also many Internet cafes in the city.

Post: 

Airmail to Europe takes five to seven days. Automatic vending machines are available at various locations for stamps.

Post office hours: 

Opening times vary. Some at key locations including the port and airport open Mon-Sat 1000-1900. The Senadao Square head office opens Mon-Fri 0900-1800 and Sat 0900-1300.

Media: 

Macau's media companies are a mix of privately and government run. The Government Information Bureau oversees the media and broadcasters. While Macau's press undoubtedly enjoys more freedom than mainland media, its independence is likely to be tempered somewhat.

Press: 

• Portuguese dailies include Hoje Macau and Jornal Tribuna de Macau.
• Chinese dailies include Macau Daily News and Va Kio Daily.
• An English-language business magazine, Macau Business, launched in 2004 and is privately owned.
• A monthly listings and city information magazine Macau Talk is widely available in bars and restaurants.

Television: 

• Teledifusao Macau operates Chinese and and Portuguese-language networks.

Radio: 

• Radio Macau operates Chinese and Portuguese-language networks.

Recommended Sites:

Protect yourself from malaria
Before you travel, find out if your holiday destination is in a malaria zone.
(An educational initiative organised and funded by GlaxoSmithKline Travel Health. UK/MARK/0173/10 September 2010)
Travel insurance
For residents of over 150 countries. High levels of medical, evacuation, emergency & most adventure activities covered.