The initiative organized by the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-Speaking Countries (MACAO), in partnership with the University of Saint Joseph that has the collaboration of Catholic University of Portugal takes place from July 6th 2014 to July 20th 2014 in Portugal. The opening ceremony of this colloquium was held on July 7th 2014 in the Catholic University of Portugal in Lisbon with the presence of the Deputy Secretary General, representing Macao Special Administrative Region, of the Permanent Secretariat for the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-Speaking Countries in Macao, Ms. Rita Santos; Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Portugal, Dr. Luís Campos Ferreira; Representative of the Ambassador of China to Portugal, Consul for Economic and Commerce, Ms. He Ding; Ambassador of East Timor, Ms. Maria da Costa; Representative of the Ambassador of Angola, Ms. Maria Perez; Representative of the Ambassador of Cabo Verde, Ms. Filonmena Lopes; Vice –Rector of Catholic University of Portugal, Professor Isabel Gil; Registrar of University of Saint Joseph, Dr. Ricardo Rato; Head of the Economic and Commercial Delegation of Macao stationed in Lisbon, Eng. Raimundo Rosario; Former Governor of Macao, General Vasco Rocha Vieira; Representative of the Brazilian Mission to the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries, Dr. Durval Luís Pereira; Coordinator of the Liasion Office and also as Representative of Angola delegation at the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-Speaking Countries in Macao, Dr. Joaquim Gama; participants of the Colloquium and other public and private institutional representatives taking part in the colloquium. The Deputy Secretary General of the Permanent Secretariat from the Forum, Ms. Rita Santos; Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Portugal, Dr. Luís Campos Ferreira; Vice –Rector of the Catholic University of Portugal, Professor Isabel Gil; Registrar of the University of Saint Joseph, Dr. Ricardo Rato and the student representative of the colloquium delivered their opening speeches respectively at the opening ceremony where over 80 participants attended which included 9 scholarship holders studying at higher education institutions in Portugal from Macao. The "Colloquium for the Conception and Management of Community Cooperatives in the Portuguese – Speaking Countries" included themes chosen by representatives of Portuguese-Speaking Countries based on the advantages of Macao and respective countries. It was the first time that the Centre for Training at the Forum (Macao), based on the recommendation of members in the Portuguese-Speaking Countries, implementing a course in one of the member of Portuguese-speaking countries of the Forum. The Colloquium takes place in Portugal with a total of 25 participants whom are chiefs or technicians of public services from Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal and East Timor. The Deputy Secretary General of the Permanent Secretariat from the Forum, Ms. Rita Santos emphasized the importance of this topic and the materials that will be the subject of study is the exchange of experience in the topics such as "Diversification of production with the aim of import substitution and promotion of exports"; "Challenges and Strategies for Successful Brand Management"; "Venture Capital in Agriculture" etc. Further, the theme is also illustrated with specific case studies of Portuguese- Speaking Countries such as: "Challenges of development in post-conflict society faced by Angola", "Challenges and opportunities of agribusiness in Brazil" and "Economic Promotion in the agricultural and agro-industrial sector with focusing in Mozambique and other countries in the African Continent". She also reinforces that this colloquium solidifies the plan for the cooperation of development in education and human resources of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-Speaking Countries and also reinforce the role of Macao as a promotional exchange and service platform for China and Portuguese-Speaking. The speakers in the colloquium include, Deputy Secretary General of the Permanent Secretariat, representing Macao Special Administrative Region, from the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-Speaking Countries in Macao, Ms. Rita Santos; Nuno Cardeal, Pedro Celeste and Ricardo Reis of Catholic University of Portugal – Católica Lisbon; Belarmino Jelembi, Director General of the Angolan NGO – ADRA (Action for Rural and Environmental Development), Firmino Mucavele, Eduardo Mondlane University in Mozambique, Leticia Costa from INSPER, Brazilian Institute of Education and Research. The participants of the colloquium will also go on site visitis, those included: Lezirias Company which is one of the major agricultural – fauna companies of Portugal with 177 years of history; Adega Maior, a tourist destination for wine tasting and olive oil production & storage; Guided tour of the Alqueva Dam, the biggest potential zone for agriculture in Portugal; Visit one of the most innovative examples of strategic regional planning institutions in Portugal, the Coordination and Development Commission in the Region of Alentejo; The colloquium will also meet with AICEP - Agency for Investment and Foreign Trade of Portugal and IAPMEI - Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation and visit to COKART, corkage factory and various sites within the cities of Lisbon and Porto.
