While enjoying the support of national policies, the developmental prospects of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area have received wide attention from all walks of life. According to the ‘Healthy China 2030’ Planning Outline, it is predicted that the overall scale of China’s big health industry will reach up to RMB16 trillion by 2030, which suggests promising developmental prospects for the industry. The rising consumption level and the increased awareness of health care underscore the importance of TCM development, which is associated with the continuous improvement of TCM processing techniques. Against such a background, how can pharmaceutical enterprises in Macao, a member city of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, set sail on the wind of opportunity and achieve success?

Macau-Union’s diverse product range 

‘Macao Brand’ – Macao Sentiment

        Macau-Union Pharmaceutical Limited, founded in 2008, is currently the only pharmaceutical enterprise in Macao that has vacuum emulsifying equipment. The company’s product lines include medicated ointments, oils and disinfectants, over 600 of which have been registered with Macao’s Health Bureau. With a standardised production process and high-quality products, Macau-Union Pharmaceutical has become the manufacturer of numerous well-known brands of medicines for external use.

        ‘Macau Original’, a TCM brand for external use that features both Macao and Portuguese characteristics, has broken people’s stereotypes of traditional TCM brands through its vivid packaging. For instance, household necessities like medicated ointments and oils such as ‘Lotus Cream’ for soothing skin allergies, ‘Far Reaching Medicated Oil’ and ‘Hung Fa Medicated Oil’ for relieving waist pain, and ‘Lavender Healing Oil’ for rejuvenation, feature distinct packaging designs with the motifs of the Portuguese rooster and Macao’s lotus emblem, which make the ‘Macau Original’ products stand out on the shelves in local pharmacies. Apart from pharmaceuticals, the company has also launched non-medication products targeting young consumers, such as the fashionable and refreshing ‘Focus Up’ that contains essential oils as its major ingredients, and thereby enables people of different ages to learn about ‘Macao Brands’ and ‘Made-in-Macao’ products.

Technical Director Lao Tai-hang

Medicated ointments production equipment

Vacuum emulsifying equipment

Devoted to product R&D and constant development by seizing opportunities

        Like other pharmaceutical companies in Macao, Macau-Union also holds expectations for the development of the TCM industry in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The company’s Technical Director Lao Tai-hang, said that the prerequisite for Macao pharmaceutical factories to enter the mainland market is to obtain the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) Certification, which has become the entrance ticket to the market and is necessary for applying to relevant mainland authorities for a permit to import pharmaceuticals. However, due to Macao’s limited land resources, most pharmaceutical factories are not able to satisfy the compulsory requirements of GMP in terms of hardware and specification of the manufacturing premises. Nonetheless, Macau-Union Pharmaceutical Limited has gained new opportunities from the construction of the Greater Bay Area and Guangdong-Macao co-operation.

        In 2017, Macau-Union Pharmaceutical (Hengqin) Limited successfully settled in the Traditional Chinese Medicine Science and Technology Industrial Park of Co-operation between Guangdong and Macao in Hengqin, and has, so far, entered into co-operation with the park on over 10 projects regarding research and development of product formulas. ‘The collaboration with and the incubation guidance from the park have not only helped us solve problems related to research and development, but also facilitated our improvement in pharmaceutical technology and corporate management,’ Said Lao who also stated that  through the platform provided by the park, the company has successfully registered two products (‘Lotus Cream’ and ‘Lavender Healing Oil’) in Mozambique, a Portuguese-speaking country. In 2020, the company initiated a project in co-operation with the park to establish a GMP-certified factory for oral TCM products, in the hope of gradually marching towards larger business markets.

Clients trying Macau-Union products at the Traditional Chinese Medicine Science and Technology Industrial Park in Hengqin 

(photo courtesy of the enterprise)

Business expansion through IPIM’s services

        Macau-Union has always appreciated the services of the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institution (IPIM) for business expansion. Speaking of the establishment process of the factory, Lao said that ‘through IPIM’s Investor’s “One-stop” Service, our factory obtained approval for the blueprint after only one application, which is really impressive. Currently, we are turning to IPIM’s services again for the co-operative project between Hengqin and Macao to establish a GMP-certified oral TCM products factory and hope to obtain one-off approval for all formalities again.’

        Moreover, Macau-Union’s products have been displayed at IPIM’s Macao Ideas. Lao said that ‘the online and offline promotional channels of Macao Ideas have increased the brand’s exposure, and we have frequently received enquiries from clients who learnt about us through Macao Ideas to negotiate procurement or co-operation.’ Macau-Union has also actively participated in exhibitions outside Macao, such as joining the China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair) organised by IPIM, in a bid to expand business opportunities through diverse means.

Raw material storage

Brand Promotion during ‘Macao International Trade & International Fair’ 

(photo courtesy of the enterprise)

Contact Macau-Union Pharmaceutical Ltd.

If you are interested in discussing co-operation with the above-mentioned company, please contact the staff of “Macao Ideas” during office hours.

Tel.: 

Ms Cheang +853 8798 9707

Ms Chong +853 8798 9739

Email: 

fionacheang@ipim.gov.mo 

elizachong@ipim.gov.mo