Macao's new five-year plan pushes diversification

Mettis Global reported that Macao has released its third five-year plan, which runs through 2030 and builds on the two previous roadmaps. The agenda gives priority to economic diversification, social advancement and closer alignment with national development. Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai said the document places Macao within national development and ties it to the 15th Five-Year Plan covering 2026-2030.

To reach that aim, the government plans to use large projects and a targeted guidance fund, while aiming to make Macao a global hub for tourism and leisure. Named priority industries include big health, modern finance, high technology, culture and sports, plus exhibitions and conventions. The plan sets a goal of lifting non-gaming sectors to about 60% of GDP by 2030, and roughly 130bn patacas (around $16.1bn) is earmarked for diversification-related projects.

Regional integration is another focus, as the plan seeks reform-led progress in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone at Hengqin, which sits in Zhuhai and was set up in 2021 to widen Macao's room for growth. Richard W. Hu, dean of social sciences at the University of Macau, says the approach now reaches into the economy, everyday life, talent pools and governance. Security is also presented as a third pillar, with Yin Yifen of Macao Polytechnic University saying the territory faces possible challenges from both traditional and non-traditional threats.