Macau SAR, June 11, 2025— At the 16th International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum (IIICF), two flagship reports were released, offering fresh insights for regional investment agencies, trade promotion bureaus, and cross-border infrastructure investors. The reports spotlight Macau's growing role in catalyzing high-quality investment cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), particularly with Portuguese-speaking economies.

The 2025 Belt and Road Infrastructure Development Index Report and the Portuguese-Speaking Countries Infrastructure Development Index and Macau SAR's BRI Participation Report (2025) not only map infrastructure trends across partner economies, but also reinforce Macau's position as a strategic connector between China and the Lusophone world—enhancing its value as a regional hub for investment promotion.

Upgraded Indices Signal New Investment Pathways

The latest BRI index introduces two major updates:

Sectoral Deep-Dive: With construction and petrochemicals now included, the index offers more targeted intelligence for investors tracking industry-specific demand. Enhanced cost metrics and a more rigorous weighting methodology add transparency and relevance for decision-makers.

Tracking “Infrastructure+” Innovation: By analyzing over 500 cross-sectoral projects launched from 2014 to 2024, the index offers forward-looking scenarios for integrated infrastructure investment—especially where energy, logistics, and digital transformation intersect.

These improvements are designed to help regional governments and agencies better match their investment promotion efforts to evolving global infrastructure demand.

Key Signals for Investment Facilitators

Four major findings provide practical direction for regional investment promotion:

Rising Momentum in BRI Economies: A steady uptick in infrastructure development suggests a broader investment rebound, particularly in developing markets.

Southeast Asia and MENA in Focus: These regions are leading infrastructure expansion, with Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and Malaysia recording the fastest index growth—pointing to new focal points for regional promotion strategies.

Transport and Power Lead the Pipeline: With over 1,100 transport and energy projects underway, valued at USD 150 billion+, the pipeline presents concrete opportunities for inward and outward investment facilitation.

Financing Innovation and Green Tech Integration: Digital tools and green standards are transforming infrastructure investment models. For investment authorities, this opens new channels to attract ESG-aligned capital and tech-enabled developers.

Macau: A Platform for Investment Matchmaking

The second report underscores Macau's evolving role as a high-value investment gateway. With strengthened ties to national strategies such as the Greater Bay Area and Hengqin Cooperation Zone, Macau is positioning itself as a precision matchmaker between Chinese investors and Lusophone partners.

Key highlights include:

Effective Mechanism Building: Macau is improving institutional coordination and service specialization in cross-border project facilitation.

BRI Service Capacity Upgrades: The city is steadily enhancing its professional capabilities to support BRI projects—especially through bilingual talent, legal services, and platform-based matchmaking.

Actionable Recommendations for Investment Promotion Agencies:

Reinforce Macau's recovery as a credible and stable investment base.

Deepen its alignment with national development strategies to attract long-term capital.

Leverage its status to build a high-standard opening-up platform with Lusophone economies.

Lusophone Markets: Undervalued, But Rising

The Lusophone Infrastructure Index reveals two clear trajectories:

Five-Year Growth Streak: Infrastructure development across Portuguese-speaking countries has continued to improve, led by Brazil, Mozambique, and Angola.

Surging Investor Interest: For six consecutive years, infrastructure investment heat has climbed—particularly in transportation, energy, and petrochemicals, highlighting niche opportunities for investment agencies promoting outbound or trilateral cooperation.