October 30, 2018 – Galaxy Entertainment Group (GEG) is committed to cultivating the development of local talent through a variety of initiatives designed to encourage young people to pursue self-discovery, contribute to the betterment of local communities and achieve their full professional potential. Since 2011, GEG has been organizing the GEG Youth Achievement Program (YAP) in conjunction with the Macau Management Association (MMA). These annual programs have provided upwards of 2,600 participants with a host of themed courses and workshops. Today, GEG held the 2017/18 YAP Award Ceremony and 2018/19 YAP Launching Ceremony in the 8/F Ballroom of StarWorld Hotel. The ceremony recognized the outstanding performance of the participants in the seventh YAP and welcomed incoming participants to the eighth YAP.

Mr. Leong Man Ion, Deputy Director of the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau; Ms. Mang Sui Yee, Head of the Employment Department of the Labour Affairs Bureau; Mr. Wong Ka Ki, Head of the Division of Youth Organizations and Training of the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau; Mr. Chui Sai Cheong, President of MMA; Mr. Paul Tse, Vice President of MMA; Mr. Francis Lui, Vice Chairman of GEG; Mr. Philip Cheng, Director of GEG; Ms. Eileen Lui, Group Director of Human Resources and Administration of GEG; Mr. Kevin Kelley, Chief Operating Officer, Macau of GEG; and a number of GEG and MMA management members attended the ceremony. MMA Training Manager Violet Ng and YAP Mentor Emil Ip outlined the highlights of the eighth YAP and presented a video reviewing the seventh YAP’s courses, workshops and study tour to Thailand. GEG and MMA representatives then presented awards to over 30 outstanding YAP members, including those who won the Final Competition. The winning team’s report explored the prospect of employing artificial intelligence technology into operations, such as augmented reality technology, interactive digital arts and electronic payment services, to attract new customers, as well as to transform Macau into an “e-city”.

In his speech at the ceremony, Mr. Philip Cheng said that YAP’s activities and courses were designed to enable participants to engage with current trends and developing fields and that GEG and MMA’s joint efforts had garnered recognition from different communities. He added that the broad YAP training aimed to equip participants with the skills necessary to stay abreast of developments nationally and locally, urging participants to seize emerging opportunities. In a separate speech, Mr. Paul Tse said that the annual program served as a good platform for local young people to grow and develop professionally. Through the YAP courses and activities, they reached out to local communities to spread love and care, as well as sharpened leadership and entrepreneurial skills. Past winners also traveled as far as South Korea, Singapore, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand to expand their horizons and knowledge. 

In order to strengthen YAP members’ understanding of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Greater Bay Area strategy, both the seventh and eighth editions of YAP have a focus on the current situation in China and the Macau Special Administrative Region. Aside from a trip to several Greater Bay Area cities, YAP participants also embarked on an Asian Study Tour to the capital of Thailand, a Belt and Road country, where they visited major multinational companies and successful start-ups in order to gain an in-depth impression of the economic cooperation between China and Thailand under the One Belt One Road Initiative, as well as China’s development blueprint. In addition, the eighth YAP will see a broader and more diverse course program covering Macau’s pursuit of a featured financial industry, employment of blockchain technology as well as big data applications. The next program is now open for applications until December 31, 2018. For more details, please download the GEG YAP mobile application.