Dr. Fanny Vong, Dear guests and students,

Today is indeed a joyful day. IFT celebrates its 15th Anniversary this year, and also commemorates its long-time quality education and training for Macau tourism industry. Today onwards, nearly 600 IFT-trained professionals will be ready to contribute to our society. All these add up to even more cheerful memories.

Macau’s tourism industry is presented with phenomenal opportunities after being positioned as world class tourist and leisure center by The Central Government. Being one of the fastest growing economic zones in China, the Pearl River Delta is set to become a determinant economic center, creating mutual benefits and development opportunities to the cities within the region. While seizing these golden chances, investors are mindful of the importance of enhancing the quality of manpower. It is necessary to further strengthen regional integration and exchange in terms of education and culture, so that our local talents are empowered with competitiveness and winning competence. A successful tourist city should be able to meet global market needs. Macau’s intrinsic characteristics, partnered with the facilities introduced by the international and local enterprises, have provided this city with the ideal conditions for greater development. Nevertheless, these hardware can only serve their purpose when driven by the right people combined with quality service. Together they make Macau an attractive tourist destination. This defines the significance of developing local human resources and the responsibility of IFT. Macau needs cross-cultural talents with international perspective. I hope IFT will continue to strengthen the international content of its courses and brings in new insights and ideas by casting a wider education network as well as providing out-reaching opportunities for its students.

In the course of evolving into an international city, our society is starting to show a sense of diversity, which is what the public and the tourists are keen to see. Macau Government understands this expectation and exerts effort to promote new industries. Creative and cultural industry, in particular, is the field we are actively cultivating. This industry will require more new blood to support a sustainable development. I hope IFT will hold on to its mission and offer support by developing courses of this kind, contributing to a creative and cultural industry with local characteristics.

The ceremony today celebrates your achievement, but does not lead to the end of a study path. Macau Government encourages life time learning because it is knowledge that helps one to keep pace. Dear students, this is finally your graduation after years of hard work. Make good use of every opportunity, and give your best to the society.

Thank you.