Macau’s Chief Executive, Sam Hou Fai, stated at the Legislative Assembly (AL) on Tuesday that the SAR’s economy in the first half of the year has seen stable and positive development, with the overall social situation remaining “harmonious.”
Reviewing the government’s work during a plenary session of the AL, the Chief Executive also pointed out that the administration’s work in the first half of 2026 has achieved positive results. He mentioned that Macau’s total economic output has recovered to 90.3% of the same period in 2019 and that first-quarter GDP reached MOP$107.5 billion (US$13.3 billion), representing a year-on-year real growth of 7.1%.
“Macau’s overall social situation has remained harmonious and stable, the overall economy is stable and improving, the fiscal revenue and expenditure situation is sound, the employment situation is favorable and the commodity prices generally remain stable,” he said.
As for arrangements for the second half of the year, Sam stated that the government will primarily focus on seven areas of work, including maintaining national security and social stability, and promoting appropriate economic diversification. He also revealed that the government will strive to announce and implement the Third Five-Year Plan of the Macau SAR in August this year.
During the session, several lawmakers expressed concern over public sector reform and executive dominance. In response, Sam said the government attaches great importance to the civil service team. He emphasized promoting administrative reform under the two principles of “no layoffs and no salary reductions” and expressed hope that civil servants would jointly face the challenges brought about by the reform.
New Secretary to focus on appropriate economic diversification
The government announced on Monday that Ng Wai Han, Director of the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ), has been promoted to Secretary for Economy and Finance. When interviewed at the AL on Tuesday, Ng reaffirmed that “promoting appropriate economic diversification is Macau’s primary task and a core measure to enhance the resilience of the local economy.”
She further pointed out, “In the past, Macau had a relatively single economic structure, but now, government-guided funds and investments in non-gaming projects have been progressively launched.”
