Macau to Host UCCLA General Assembly on Disaster Relief & Trade
The Union of Portuguese-Language Capital Cities (UCCLA) will convene its XLIII General Assembly in Macau on April 13, 2026, centering its agenda on humanitarian solidarity and the expansion of cross-continental business ties. The high-level meeting will bring together member cities and corporate partners at the prestigious Macau Forum complex.
Humanitarian Aid and Commemorations
Top of the assembly’s agenda is the formalization of support for regions devastated by recent extreme weather events. Members are expected to approve three major solidarity motions addressing the aftermath of catastrophic floods that struck Mozambique between December 2025 and January 2026, Cape Verde in August 2025, and Portugal in early 2026. These disasters resulted in significant loss of life and severe infrastructure damage across the Lusophone world.
The assembly will also pause to honor the legacy of the celebrated writer António Lobo Antunes, who passed away on March 5, with a formal vote of condolence and recognition for his contributions to Portuguese literature.
Expansion and New Membership
The organization is set to grow during the Macau summit. The assembly will evaluate new membership applications from the Portuguese city of Viseu and the Angolan province of Ícolo e Bengo—a region south of Luanda that encompasses seven municipalities. A Luso-Brazilian association has also applied for membership, signaling continued interest in trans-Atlantic cooperation.
Driving Economic Growth: Smart Cities and the Greater Bay Area
Beyond administrative and humanitarian efforts, the event serves as a strategic bridge for economic development. On April 14, a dedicated business forum titled “Infrastructure and Smart Cities” will take place on the sidelines of the main assembly.
The forum aims to showcase Macau’s unique role as a commercial gateway between China and Portuguese-speaking nations. Discussions will focus on the investment climate in Macau and the burgeoning opportunities within the Guangdong-Macau In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin. For Lusophone companies, the forum represents a critical entry point into the Greater Bay Area market.
To conclude the event, the Macau Government will lead a guided tour of Hengqin for international delegates. This special economic zone, managed jointly by Zhuhai and Macau, is designed to demonstrate how Lusophone services and enterprises can integrate with the vast industrial and technological resources of mainland China.
About UCCLA
Founded on June 28, 1985, UCCLA is a non-profit inter-municipal organization focused on fostering cooperation across health, culture, and economic sectors. From its eight founding cities—including Lisbon, Luanda, Rio de Janeiro, and Macau—the organization has grown to 106 members, comprising full, associate, and supporting members alongside accredited observers.
Image: Pexels – tian Jin
