The flow of inward direct investment to Macau grew by 167.8% year-on-year to MOP$53.99 billion in 2019, including MOP$43.31 billion in the gaming sector according to information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC).
The figures also showed that inward direct investment income rose by 8.6% year-on-year to MOP80.33 billion, of which income earned by foreign direct investors in the gaming sector reached MOP$45.19 billion, followed by Financial Activities (MOP$14.38 billion) and the Wholesale and Retail sector (MOP$8.28 billion).
By country or territory of “usual residence” of direct investors, which includes countries in which Macau and Hong Kong firms are incorporated, the Cayman Islands represented MOP$30.75 billion followed by the British Virgin Islands at MOP$10.20 billion, mainland China at MOP$7.95 billion and Hong Kong at MOP$3.48 billion.
The contribution of the gaming sector proved to be the most significant across the board, with the stock on inward direct investment – which relates to the value of equity by foreign investors plus their net loans to local enterprises – up 21.2% year-on-year to MOP$346.63 billion. Gaming stock comprised more than half of that figure, up 37.2% year-on-year to MOP$181.21 billion.
The DSEC said outward direct investment flows of Macau enterprises also rose significantly in 2019, up 292.8% to MOP$4.53 billion. However, income earned by Macau enterprises dropped by 18.7% to MOP$1.60 billion.
As at the end of 2019, stock of outward direct investment expanded by 9.4% year-on-year to MOP$55.49 billion including MOP$45.55 billion invested in mainland China.
According to the DSEC, “Direct investment statistics aim to provide an overview of direct investments between Macau and other economies, and cover a range of sectors.
