Local SME Suppliers Attend Sands China's SME Open Day

Nearly 220 SME suppliers explore procurement opportunities with Sands China

(Macao, Apr. 20, 2023) – Sands China Ltd. held its 2023 Sands China Local Supplier Open Day Thursday at The Venetian^® Macao, aimed at providing procurement opportunities for prospective local SME suppliers. The event was well-attended, with close to 220 SME suppliers participating.

The event was an initiative of Sands China's Local Small, Medium and Micro Suppliers Support Programme and its F.I.T. initiative (Financial Support, Invitational Matching, and Training and Development) for local SME suppliers.

Co-organised with the Macao Chamber of Commerce, the Open Day focused on the three types of local businesses targeted by the supplier support programme: local small and micro suppliers; "Made in Macao" companies and Macao young entrepreneurs.

The Local Supplier Open Day gave potential suppliers a chance to connect with Sands China procurement representatives and learn about procurement opportunities in various departments. Several categories of procurement booths were set up: food and beverage, outside services and logistics, marketing and printing, technology and gaming, operating supplies and equipment, facilities and construction, and Macao brand and made-in-Macao products.

The event also featured a Sands Procurement Academy booth, where details about the academy and on-site registration were available. New to Open Day this year was a Marina Bay Sands booth, which familiarised suppliers with the logistics of the international procurement process.

Bank of China (BOC), the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), and BNU also had booths at the event to showcase the financial products and services they offer to SME suppliers to aid the growth of their businesses.

Grant Chum, chief operating officer of Sands China Ltd., said: "After three years of pandemic measures, Sands China is very pleased to once again be able to hold our Local Supplier Open Day to help Macao's local suppliers discover procurement opportunities at our properties. We remain committed to the growth and development of local SME suppliers, and hope this event results in fruitful collaborations – adding to the strong relationships we have with our existing local suppliers, who daily help us deliver our world-renowned service quality and experiences."

Sands China recorded a gross procurement amount of MOP 5.9 billion in 2022, with 89 percent (MOP 5.28 billion) going to Macao enterprises and 25 percent going to local SMEs.

Officiating guests at Thursday's SME Open Day were Tai Kin Ip, director of the Economic and Technological Development Bureau; Sun Yaohua, director of the Economic Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR; Wong Sou Kuan, head of the Liaison and Training Division of the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau; Joe Chan Ka Chai, senior manager of the Investor Service Department of the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute; Chui Yuk Lum, president of the Industrial Association of Macau; Choi Tat Meng, vice president of the board of directors of the Macao Chamber of Commerce; Helena Lei, senior manager of the Standards, Management, Training & Assessment Department of the Macau Productivity and Technology Transfer Center; Grant Chum, chief operating officer of Sands China Ltd.; Dave Sun, senior vice president and chief financial officer of Sands China Ltd.; and Charlie Cai, vice president of procurement and supply chain for Venetian Macau Limited.

Sands China's Local Small, Medium and Micro Suppliers Support Programme is in line with the Macao government's initiative to "buy local" and demonstrates Sands China's commitment to supporting local enterprises as part of the company's corporate social responsibility efforts. It is part of Sands China's supplier relationship management strategy, which guides the company's long-standing effort to support local suppliers, whom it views as its strategic partners.

Photo caption: Guests of honour launch Sands China's Local SME Supplier Open Day Thursday at The Venetian Macao. Co-organised with the Macao Chamber of Commerce, the event aimed at providing procurement opportunities for prospective local SME suppliers.