9th Cohort of Local SME Suppliers Graduates from Sands Procurement Academy

More than 280 local SME suppliers have completed the programme to date

(Macao, May 13, 2021) – A group of local SME suppliers graduated from the Sands Procurement Academy Wednesday with a ceremony at The Venetian^® Macao's Adelson Advanced Education Centre. They are the ninth group of local SMEs to graduate from the training initiative; the cohort of 64 suppliers breaks the record as Sands China's largest class to date.

The Sands Procurement Academy is co-organised with the Macao Chamber of Commerce and the Macau Productivity and Technology Centre (CPTTM), and shares business knowledge and skills to further the development of local SME suppliers. The aim of the programme is to help them gain experience and capacity for working with large-scale international corporations. While initially targeting local suppliers of four types – small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), micro-enterprises, Macao young entrepreneurs, and "Made-in-Macao" enterprises – Sands China has opened up enrolment in the academy to all local SMEs in Macao since last year, providing opportunities for a wider scope of SMEs to benefit from the skills and knowledge offered by the Sands Procurement Academy's professionals.

Since the founding of the academy in 2017, nearly 300 suppliers have enrolled in the programme and over 280 have graduated, including Wednesday's group. Graduating suppliers receive a certificate and are given preferential procurement opportunities under otherwise equal circumstances.

"Sands China is so pleased to see the continued interest in the Sands Procurement Academy – an invaluable free resource for local SMEs," said Charlie Cai, vice president of procurement and supply chain for Venetian Macau Limited. "Among this group of graduates, some were exhibitors in last year's Sands Shopping Carnival, some are already our vendors, and others enrolled in the academy through our official website. We are again happy to see a diverse mix of participants and we always have our doors open to all local SMEs to take advantage of this unique opportunity for business advancement."

A recent academy graduate, Lei Sio Man, said: "My gratitude goes to Sands China for offering this valuable opportunity to us SMEs. I have already recommended this programme to my peers as I found it very helpful; It gives professional insights for my company's partnership with international large-scale enterprises like Sands China."

The training programme is the first of its kind in the industry. Focused on practical knowledge for participating SMEs, it has received much positive feedback from its graduates.

Guests of honour at the graduation ceremony were Shuen Ka Hung, director general of the Macau Productivity and Technology Transfer Center; Chui Yuk Lum, vice president of the board of directors of the Macao Chamber of Commerce; Cai; and representatives of local suppliers.

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

Local SME suppliers in the academy learn through tailor-made practical training modules, which are delivered by lecturers with various 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.

Sands China's Local Small, Medium and Micro Suppliers Support Programme is in line with the Macao government's initiative to "buy local" and demonstrates 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: Local SMEs graduate from the Sands Procurement Academy Wednesday at The Venetian Macao's Adelson Advanced Education Centre. They are the ninth intake to graduate from the free training initiative, which helps locals SMEs gain experience and capacity for working with large-scale international corporations

Photo caption: Guests of honour participate in the graduation ceremony for the ninth cohort of the Sands Procurement Academy Wednesday at The Venetian Macao's Adelson Advanced Education Centre.