The China-Portuguese Speaking Countries Cooperation and Development Fund has already invested EUR 527 million in 11 projects in Portugal, Brazil, Angola, Mozambique and Macau, the deputy secretary-general of the Forum Macau Permanent Secretariat said.

“It is the first Chinese capital investment fund specializing in investments in Portuguese-speaking countries and has guaranteed financing support for companies from China [including Macau] and Portuguese-speaking countries, for the benefit of investment, cooperation and mutual development of China and these countries,” explained deputy secretary-general Casimiro de Jesus Pinto at the ‘Promotion, Exchange and Reception of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macau’ session in Lisbon.

According to Casimiro de Jesus Pinto, the projects funded by the Macau-based fund are “in sectors such as infrastructure, new energies, agriculture and the financial sector”.

The cooperation fund was set up in June 2013 by the China Development Bank and the Macau Industrial and Commercial Development Fund, at the proposal of Forum Macau, Pinto added.

The fund has a total capital of one billion USD (around EUR 924 million at the current exchange rate), and is managed exclusively by the China-Africa Development Fund (CADFund), “without the right of supervision of Forum Macau”, he said.

Its shareholders are the China Development Bank, the China-Africa Development Fund and the Macau Industrial and Commercial Development Fund.

Its investment principles are: Promoting investment cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries; Following the principle of capital preservation with moderate return, gradual expansion of investment to more countries; Following the principles of market operation and strict risk prevention and control, he stressed.

The means of investment are in equity, through direct investment in ordinary shares of companies or projects, and in participation in projects through various forms, such as preferred shares and debt financing, actively playing the role of consultant and liaison,Pinto concluded.