For the best understanding of Macao’s role as a bridge in economic and trade exchanges under the “Belt and Road Initiative”, and to enhance students’ understanding of African culture and China-Africa relations, FOB held the “Seminar for China-Africa Economic and Business Development” on September 20 at the Cultural Centre of the Taipa Campus. The seminar invited Professor Renato Pereira, Associate Dean for Internationalization and Research at ISCTE Business School, and Mr. Mário Vicente, former representative of Cape Verde at the Permanent Secretariat of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao), as keynote speakers. More than one hundred teachers and students from the Faculty of Business (FOB) and other faculties attended the seminar.

The event commenced with opening remarks from Professor José Alves, Dean of FOB, and Professor Justin Dejun Xie, DBA Programme Coordinator of FOB. Dean Alves highlighted the long-standing friendly cooperation between China and African nations, noting that China-Africa economic and trade relations are a vital part of global development. He emphasized the significant role of Portuguese-speaking countries in international cooperation mechanisms such as the Sino-Africa Seminar, the Sino-Portuguese Seminar, and the “Belt and Road Initiative”. Dean Alves expressed his hope that the seminar would spark interest among DBA students in China-Africa trade opportunities and explore the potential for economic and trade cooperation. Professor Xie expressed appreciation to all the guest speakers, all students, and all the staff members supporting the event. He emphasized that the DBA programme, as an advanced education programme aimed at senior management, has the core objective of cultivating business leaders capable of making strategic decisions in complex business environments. The success of the DBA programme of FOB is attributed to the visionary educational design and strong support from the leaders of FOB and our university.

The seminar proceeded with Professor Renato Pereira presenting "Exchange Rate Risk for African Countries," offering an overview of the economic landscape and key industries in Africa. He detailed how international commodity prices significantly influence the exchange rates of African countries with single-industry economies and discussed the detrimental impact of this risk on foreign investors' willingness to invest. Mr. Mário Vicente then shared his insights on “China-Africa Trade Relation Forecast.” Using Cape Verde as an example, he introduced two major African regional economic organizations—Union Economique et Monétaire Ouest-Africaine (UEMOA) and Communauté Economique et Monétaire de l’Afrique Centrale (CEMAC)—and envisioned a new chapter in China-Africa economic and trade cooperation based on these common markets. The comprehensive and in-depth presentations by the two guests greatly enriched the knowledge of the DBA students and sparked their interest. A lively discussion ensued with students sharing a rich experience of business in African countries. Many students engaged in profound discussions with the guests on topics such as how to mitigate exchange rate risks, how Chinese enterprises should find local partners, and China-Africa cooperation under the “Belt and Road Initiative.”

Concluding the seminar, Associate Deans José Paulo Esperança and Yihui Tian of the FOB provided summaries. Associate Deans José Paulo Esperança stated that with the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, the bilateral relations between China and all African countries with diplomatic ties have been elevated to a strategic level, forging a new community with a shared future. He added that being in Macao, a nexus between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, we should actively promote economic, educational, and cultural exchanges between China and African Portuguese-speaking countries under the broader goal of a China-Africa community with a shared future. Associate Dean Tian concluded that this Seminar aims to encourage communication and build consensus, hoping that students will deepen their understanding of international economic and trade cooperation. FOB will strongly support inviting elites from various fields to provide students with updated business and industry insights. It will also strongly support students in self-organizing such events to enhance their influence in the industry.