MACAO, May 31, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Sands China Ltd. hosted its third invitational matching session Thursday at The Venetian® Macao, as part of its F.I.T. programme (Financial Support, Invitational Matching, and Training and Development) for local SME suppliers. The company also used the occasion to hold a launch ceremony for the publication of its SME programme overview, which highlights the efforts and successes of Sands China's Local Small, Medium and Micro Suppliers Support Programme – under which the F.I.T. programme falls.
The F.I.T. programme's invitational matching sessions give local SME suppliers a platform for presenting and demonstrating their products and services to potential users and buyers at Sands China properties, with the company's full support. The initiative is aimed at enhancing communication between vendors and users and improving the procurement success rate.
Thursday's session focused on food and beverage, facilities, and hotel operation supplies and equipment. It offered 22 local SME suppliers a chance to connect directly with around 200 buyers and users from Sands China departments, including food and beverage, gaming, facilities, and hotel operations. Members of the Macau Hotel Association were also invited to attend, as well as representatives from the procurement departments of Marina Bay Sands in Singapore and of Macao's other resort operators -- in order to provide additional business opportunities for local SMEs and more direct communication and exchange within the industry.
Sands China has already purchased a total of approximately 1,200 products from local SMEs participating in its first two invitational matching sessions, totalling over MOP 24 million.
"Sands China's supplier support programme has been a great success, and we are very pleased to see our ongoing collaboration with local SME suppliers as a result of this corporate social responsibility effort," said Dr. Wilfred Wong, president of Sands China Ltd. "We strive to be innovative in creating more opportunities for SMEs to grow alongside our company. Invitational matching sessions like these are the first-of-their-kind and we have received much positive feedback from participating suppliers We are proud to share the achievements of this programme through the release of this new publication, and we wish for continued success for Macao's local enterprises in tandem with the city's development as a world centre of tourism and leisure."
Sands China's Local Small, Medium and Micro Suppliers Support Programme was created to support local enterprises as part of the company's corporate social responsibility efforts, in line with the Macao government's initiative to "buy local." In light of the programme's measurable achievements, Sands China has published a book highlighting the efforts and successes of the programme, including the stories of some of the local enterprises that are benefiting from it, milestones of SME-related events, and Sands China's post-Typhoon Hato assistance to local SMEs.
In many cases, local SMEs grew significantly after participating in the programme. Their increase in business from working with Sands China has led to additional opportunities, including with other integrated resort operators. The publication was well-received by key stakeholders from the government and the community, who contributed to the book's preface. It was unveiled at Thursday's event, and presented to the guests of honour, including representatives from local SMEs. A digital version is available at https://www.sandschina.com/the-company/SME-Support/sme-booklet.html.
In addition to Dr. Wong, invited guests of honour at Thursday's event included Director of the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) Paulo Chan; Director of the Economic Services Bureau (DSE) Tai Kin Ip; Director General of the Macau Productivity and Technology Centre (CPTTM) Dr. Shuen Ka Hung; Director of the Economic Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR Zhuo Xianghua; Director of Macao Daily News Lok Po; Chairman of the Executive Committee of TDM Manuel Pires; Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Macao Chamber of Commerce Chui Yuk Lam; Acting Senior Manager of the Investor Service Department of the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) Joe Chan; Senior Vice President of Finance for Sands China Ltd. Dave Sun; Vice President of Corporate Communications and Community Affairs for Venetian Macau Limited Winnie Wong; and Executive Director of Procurement and Supply Chain for Venetian Macau Limited Charlie Cai.
Sands China's Local Small, Medium and Micro Suppliers Support Programme is part of the company's supplier relationship management strategy, which guides its long-standing effort to support local suppliers, whom it views as its strategic partners. The programme's F.I.T. initiative aims to continue driving procurement between Sands China and local SME suppliers, targeted at both existing and new local Sands China suppliers of the following types: small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), micro-enterprises, Macao young entrepreneurs, and "Made-in-Macao" enterprises.
About Sands China Ltd.
Sands China Ltd. (HKEx: 1928, Sands China or the Company) is a Cayman Islands registered company and is listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited. Sands China is the largest operator of integrated resorts in Macao. The Company's Cotai Strip portfolio is comprised of The Venetian® Macao, The Plaza® Macao, Sands® Cotai Central and The Parisian Macao. The Company also owns and operates Sands® Macao on the Macao peninsula. The Company's integrated resorts contain a diversified mix of leisure and business attractions and transportation operations, including large meeting and convention facilities; a wide range of restaurants; shopping malls; world-class entertainment at the Cotai Arena, The Venetian Theatre, The Parisian Theatre and the Sands Cotai Theatre; and a high-speed Cotai Water Jet ferry service between Hong Kong and Macao. The Company's Cotai Strip portfolio has the goal of contributing to Macao's transformation into a world centre of tourism and leisure. Sands China is a subsidiary of global resort developer Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE: LVS).
For more information, please visit www.sandschinaltd.com.
Media contacts:
Corporate Communications, Venetian Macau Limited
Mabel Wu
Tel: +853 8118 2268
Email: mabel.wu@sands.com.mo
Josie Ho
Tel: +853 8118 2024
Email: josie.ho@sands.com.mo
Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20180531/2147907-1-a
Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20180531/2147907-1-b
