A scheme named “Macau Classic Brand” opened for applications Monday, aiming to recognise local brands with Macau characteristics.
A press conference was hosted by the Macau Chain Stores and Franchise Association with representatives from several government bodies, in a pressroom of the Economic Services Bureau (DSE) in Nam Van.
Addressing the press conference, DSE Director Tai Kin Ip said that in order to support local classic brands, the Economic Services Bureau signed an agreement with the Macau Chain Stores and Franchise Association last November and set up the Macau Classic Brand Evaluation Commission and provide support to them.
According to the press conference, the commission features members from the Economic Services Bureau (DSE), Consumer Council (CC), Macau Productivity and Technology Transfer Centre (CPTTM), as well as other non-governmental entities.
The press conference underlined that the commission has analysed the standards of the Guangdong Time-Honoured Brand scheme and a study on local classic brands by the Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST), which was released in April, before setting up its standards for the “Macau Classic Brand” scheme.
The scheme requires the brands to have been in existence for at least 40 years, offer “unique products, techniques or services” and have a “vivid local cultural background”, as well as being “extensively recognised by society”.
Asked by The Macau Post Daily how the commission would decide whether a brand is “extensively recognised by society”, Tai said that the commission had worked on defining the standards during the preparation of the scheme and also consulted a research institution before setting its “objective” standards, adding that the public could take part in an online vote for participating brands.
According to the press conference, the application period lasts until September 28, and the online public voting is slated to take place in October. The results of the evaluation are set to be released by the end of the year. Recognised brands would be assisted in their long-term development by the commission. No details of the assistance were released during the press conference.
