Green finance highlight of Macao infrastructure forum

A total of $6.37 billion worth of contracts, memorandums of understanding (MOU) as well as agreements were sealed on-site during the two days of the ninth International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum, which was held in Macao on June 7 and 8.

Among all the MOUs, the MOU of Green Finance Collaboration in Macao was signed on June 8 by the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, the China City Development Foundation and two other organizations. The main objective in signing this MOU is to enforce the collaboration of all parties to enhance Macao as an unique center of green finance, to bring in investment and projects from the Chinese mainland and Portuguese-speaking countries as well as regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, and to reinforce the role of Macao as an international environmental cooperation platform.

Currently, the area is fully advancing its implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative as well as the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, where infrastructure construction and interconnection are the key areas, and the forum will help in facilitating Macao to be an important part and platform in the Belt and Road Initiative, said Fang Qiuchen, chairman of the China International Contractors' Association, the organizer of the forum.

The Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine Volodymyr Omelyan told the forum that China’s Belt and Road Initiative is fully supported by Ukraine and Ukraine is very happy to be part of it.

“The Belt and Road Initiative is not just about Chinese people or European people -- it is about all the people on earth,” said Omelyan.

He said that in order to achieve the new industrial revolution, it is crucial for all governments to build new transportation routes to secure the fastest delivery for passengers and for freight.

Omelyan mentioned that Ukraine plans to spend $6 billion on infrastructure in the next 12 years, to transform Ukraine into a hub between Europe and Asia. He is very pleased to see that many Chinese companies have expanded their business in Ukraine, and he sees the success of Chinese companies in Ukraine as the success of the Ukrainian government.

Patali Champika Ranawaka, minister of megapolis and western development of Sri Lanka, said that infrastructure is crucial to the country’s economic development. Sri Lanka plans to build an economic corridor to link its west coast to the east and it welcomes Chinese companies to invest in Sri Lanka’s infrastructure projects to help them push forward the country’s economic development.

Ronald Kaoma Chitotela, minister of housing and infrastructure development of Zambia, told the forum that China’s Belt and Road Initiative as well as China’s investment on infrastructure projects in Africa is very important to the country, as only with good infrastructure will Zambia be able to export its minerals, services as well as other resources to the world.

He stressed that the country also welcomes the private sector to come into the country and invest in local infrastructure projects and the government will do everything to protect these private investments.