On 7 January 2017, an agreement signing ceremony was held to launch the joint Professional Banking Management Certificate Programmes provided by the Open Institute of City University of Macau (OI-CityU) and Macau Institute of Financial Services (IFS). The Ceremony took place in the Auditorium of the Monetary Authority of Macau. At the Ceremony, Mr. António Félix Pontes, Chairman of Executive Board of IFS delivered the opening remarks, and the Agreement was thereafter signed by Mr Félix Pontes and Mr Robert Chan, Director of OI-CityU cum Secretary General of the Council of CityU, followed by a Briefing on the Professional Banking Management Certificate Programmes presented by Dr Gavin Chau, Executive Associate Dean of Open Institute of CityU.

In his opening remarks, Mr Félix Pontes said, “Macau should embark on the innovation of its financial services, and financial leasing offers a great opportunity for this. In addition to today’s seminar, Open Institute of CityU and IFS will be preparing courses in leasing and financial leasing, which include two levels: Basic and Advanced; covering topics such as the types of leasing, leasing and SME financing, International Accounting Standard 17 (IAS17) and its accounting impact on financial leasing and operating leasing”.

The guests of honour were Mr Benjamin Chan, Executive Director of the Board of Directors of AMCM cum Executive Board Member of IFS; Mr Chris Ma, Executive Board Member of IFS; Dr Rui Rocha, Director of Department of Portuguese Language and Culture of Portuguese-speaking Countries of CityU; Ms Chen Fen, Director of Banking Business Development Department of Bank of China Macau Branch; Mr Josiah Pang, Regional Director of Association of International Accountants; Mr Ronald Cheng, Chief Executive of Father Financial Planning Services Limited; Mr Ebony Chiu, President of Association of International Accountants Hong Kong Branch; Ms Sabrina Choi, Deputy Director of Personal Banking Department of Bank of China Macau Branch; Ms Gillie Law, Financial Planning Manager of Father Financial Planning Services Limited; and Mr Joe Luk, Financial Advisor of Father Financial Planning Services Limited.

The Agreement sets out the joint commitment to providing Banking Management Programmes, namely Professional Certificate in Banking Management, Professional Diploma in Banking Management, and Advanced Diploma in Banking Management, for practitioners in the banking and financial services sector; and youths who wish to start out in a career in banking or financial services sector. The objectives of the Programmes are to develop professionals in the banking and financial services sector; to equip youths who wish to start out in a career in banking or financial services with skills and understanding of how financial institutions operate and how banking and financial principles are applied in the real world; and to enhance the professional skills of the financial practitioners.

Following the signing of the Agreement, two seminars titled ‘Integrating into the National Overall Strategy, Developing Financial Leasing Industry in Macau’ and ‘One Belt One Road – Investment Opportunities’ were delivered, respectively, by Mr Lei Jun, Strategy Analyst of Bank of China Macau Branch, and Ms Christine Chong, Unit Manager of Father Financial Planning Services Limited.