Macao is located on the west bank of the Pearl River in southeast China, 60 km away from Hong Kong and 145km from Guangzhou. Having a total area of 26.8 square kilometres, it comprises Macao peninsula, Taipa and Coloane islands and is densely populated with 441,600 inhabitants.

Macao is a Special Administrative Region of China. Under the principle of "One country, Two systems", the Basic Law guarantees it enjoys a among the highest degree of autonomy and executive, legislative and independent judicial powers, including that of final adjudication. Macao is an independent tariff region and enjoys a high quality of living, with its per capita GDP value among the highest in Asian countries. Also, its public health care standard is comparable with those of developed countries.

Having a free market economy, Macao offers one of the best environments for business. We have a sound financial system with high liquidity, a state-of-art infrastructure and communication system, low taxation and operating costs. Besides, as a free port, Macao levies no import duties on raw materials and capital equipment, imposes no quantitative restrictions on imports, and all foreign currencies can be taken in or out of the Territory in unlimited amounts.

Led by gaming and tourism, Macao's economy is fast transforming into service centred, an ideal choice for SME economic and trade co-operation platform. Not only its economy is integrated with that of the Pearl River Delta, its connection with Mainland China, after the sovereignty handover, has been ever deeper and more extensive, with several economic and trade co-operation committees / liaison groups, of different levels, being set up (with the Central Government, Chongqing, Fujian...etc) and ever increasing cross-border economic and trade activities.

Macao is well established in the international community and has broad global and regional links. Currently there are consular services from 61 countries. Being a full member as "Macao,China" of 11 international governmental organisations including the WTO, Macao is also a member of 29 nongovernmental organisations.159 international covenants and multilateral treaties are applicable to the Territory.

In particular, Macao has an especially close relationship with European Union and Portuguese speaking countries. The Trade and Co-operation Agreement which was concluded in 1992 between Macao and the EU has laid a framework for co-operation in economic, technological, cultural, environmental protection and human resource fields between the two parties. Subsequently, many Europe-related institutions have been established in Macao. Among them, "Euro-Info Centre, Macao" is located on the 2nd Floor of our Institute. On the other hand, there are many economic and trade cooperation pacts signed up between Macao and various Portuguese speaking countries, in additional to historical, linguistic and cultural links. Macao's intermediary role is being strengthened as local economic and cultural development progresses towards a new stage.