This infrastructure is designed to operate in tandem with Macau's international airport and attract meetings/incentives/conventions/exhibition (MICE) business to the MSAR. With the recent opening of Hong Kong's AsiaWorld-Expo, the competition will be fierce (see sidebar, 'MICE space'). But Macau, buttressed by the neighboring Zhuhai SEZ, is no longer willing to concede HK's long-standing status as the 'gateway to China.' Malaysia-based budget carrier Air Asia Berhad chose Macau as its hub in the PRD, providing competition to regional destinations Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur from Macau's decade-old airport near Taipa.

Educational imperative

'IT skills are important,' said Iao, 'but English proficiency is critical.' Au pointed out that Macau has gained higher-education institutions in recent years, but competing with higher salaries offered to casino workers is a perennial problem in recruiting and maintaining new talent. 'This isn't just a problem for IT SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) like ours, but affects other Macau SMEs.'

With the new projects coming onstream, Au sees educational support as imperative. 'Macau universities must train more professionals,' he said. But simply providing training is not enough, said the Netcraft chief. 'For example, some students in Macau are mainlanders. We train them here, but we want to keep those skills in Macau, by hiring them if possible.' Au said that labor regulations in Macau made it more difficult to hire non-residents relative to Hong Kong, and this made it more difficult for firms to attract and retain employees with IT skills.

According to Au, this human resources problem affects Macau industries like banks and even government. Iao agreed that developing and maintaining IT skills among Macau's labor force was a serious issue.