9th Cohort of Local SME Suppliers Join Sands Procurement Academy

Record 64 suppliers enrolled in sought-after programme

(Macao, Apr. 14, 2021) – The latest group of local SME suppliers to join the Sands Procurement Academy were inaugurated into the programme Wednesday at a ceremony at The Venetian^® Macao's Adelson Advanced Education Centre. They are the ninth cohort to date to make use of Sands China's complimentary local SME training programme.

Co-organised with the Macao Chamber of Commerce and the Macau Productivity and Technology Centre (CPTTM), the Sands Procurement Academy is a first-of-its-kind industry training and focuses on delivering practical knowledge to local SMEs. It shares business knowledge and skills with local SME suppliers to promote the development of their businesses, and specifically targets four types of local suppliers: small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), micro-enterprises, Macao young entrepreneurs, and "Made-in-Macao" enterprises.

"Sands China remains dedicated to helping groom local SMEs to meet international standards through the academy, and we're delighted to have a record 64 suppliers enrolled in the 9th cohort – demonstrating that local SMEs find the academy's modules effective in helping their businesses," said Charlie Cai, vice president of procurement and supply chain for Venetian Macau Limited. "This year's participants include exhibitors from last year's Sands Shopping Carnival, existing Sands China suppliers, and potential new suppliers. We're pleased to see a variety of enterprises this year, and we open our doors to all local SMEs to explore establishing a business relationship with us."

More than 220 local SME suppliers have graduated from the academy since its 2017 launch. Academy graduates consistently share positive feedback from their participation in the academy's courses and on the impact it has had on their businesses. Programme graduates receive a completion certificate and are given preferential procurement opportunities with Sands China under otherwise equal circumstances.

The Sands Procurement Academy supports the third pillar of the company's F.I.T. programme, which offers Financial Support, Invitational Matching, and Training and Development. F.I.T. targets both existing and new local Sands China suppliers as part of Sands China's Local Small, Medium and Micro Suppliers Support Programme. It seeks to continually increase and strengthen procurement between Sands China and local SME suppliers by enhancing their capabilities.

The academy's participating local SME suppliers learn through tailor-made practical training modules, presented by lecturers with diverse areas of expertise. The programme's modules comprise six topics: logistics management, quality assurance, procurement contracts, procurement process and system overview, supplier code of conduct, and Macao labour law fundamentals.

In 2015, Sands China took the initiative to co-launch the Local Small, Medium and Micro Suppliers Support Programme with the Macao Chamber of Commerce, aligning with the Macao government's initiative to "buy local" and demonstrating Sands China's commitment to supporting local enterprises as part of the company's corporate social responsibility efforts. It is part of Sands China's supplier relationship management strategy, which guides the company's long-standing effort to support local suppliers, whom it views as its strategic partners.

Photo caption: Mimi Ooi, executive director of procurement and supply chain for Venetian Macau Limited, speaks to local SME suppliers being inaugurated into the Sands Procurement Academy Wednesday at The Venetian Macao's Adelson Advanced Education Centre.

Photo caption: Sands China inaugurates its ninth group of local SME suppliers into the Sands Procurement Academy Wednesday at The Venetian Macao's Adelson Advanced Education Centre. Since 2017, the ongoing training initiative has helped local SME suppliers gain experience and capacity for working with large-scale enterprises like Sands China Ltd.