Sands China Funds 24 Macao Enterprises Through its Community Revitalization Programme for Rua das Estalagens 2026

In September, Sands China continued its support for the ongoing revitalization of Macao’s Rua das Estalagens commercial district with its announcement of a new round of funding for 24 enterprises operating on the historic street as part of the company’s Community Revitalization Programme for Rua das Estalagens 2026.

The 2026 funding comes through two initiatives under the revitalization program – the Entrepreneurship Recruitment Programme 2.0 and a new Shop Rebranding Programme. Both efforts are co-organized by Sands China and the Macao Chamber of Commerce.

These programs provide selected businesses with subsidies to match their investments in establishing new businesses on the street or bolstering existing ones. The Entrepreneurship Recruitment Programme 2.0 supports entrepreneurs seeking to open new businesses, and they must commit to self-invested initial operating capital of around $37,000. Businesses then receive subsidies that are approximately one to two times the amount of self-invested capital, with a cap of approximately $125,000 per applicant.

The new Shop Rebranding Programme targets existing businesses and supports brand image upgrades, packaging design and shop-front renovation, with subsidies capped at approximately $62,000.

“This initiative seeks to recruit a new cohort of SMEs to start businesses on the historic street, providing a platform for Macao entrepreneurs to flourish while further re-energizing the district’s cultural, tourism and economic vitality,” Dr. Wilfred Wong, executive vice chairman of Sands China, said. “Additionally, through our inaugural Shop Rebranding Programme, we aim to help the street’s existing businesses optimize and upgrade their brands, ensuring the sustainable development of Macao’s revitalized districts.”

He also explained, “The key to revitalizing historic districts lies in fostering a harmonious blend of cultural heritage and modern vitality,” adding that the aim is to “encourage entrepreneurs to bring innovative concepts to historic districts, while supporting long-established local businesses in upgrading their operations and transforming their business models.”

This year’s program drew 69 applications, which were evaluated through a rigorous three-round assessment process conducted by a cross-sector judging panel with representatives from government departments, the banking and business sectors, and community organizations.

Following the evaluation process, the 24 projects that were selected encompass 11 entrepreneurship proposals and 13 rebranding plans. Selected enterprises span a diverse range of businesses in areas such as dine-in and takeaway, retail, cultural and creative, fashion, travel photography and pet grooming.

Combined with the first round of investments made in 2024-2025, Sands China’s Rua das Estalagens revitalization initiative is benefiting 30 enterprises and significantly contributing to the renewal of the district’s business landscape.

Selected enterprises receiving funding from the Entrepreneurship Recruitment Programme 2.0 are:

• Ho’s Coffee – A trendy café combining immersive magical experiences, specialty coffee and holistic wellness
• COINERY – Macao’s first workshop offering a hands-on experience in crafting rings from coins
• Gengfu Chenpi Queen Wellness Centre – A wellness tea shop specializing in beverages infused with chenpi (dried tangerine peel), chenpi products and gift sets
• BO LO BO LO MEOW – A lifestyle store offering seasonal specialty beverages, handmade pineapple cakes, butter cookies and cultural and creative accessories
• VAYNE – A California-style, fast-casual takeaway eatery
• Fong’s Faction – An innovative tailor shop combining 55 years of traditional craftsmanship with AI technology and 3D body scanning
• VALUN – A contemporary Chinese tea culture space newly created by a renowned heritage brand, combining tea retail, creative tea-infused desserts, traditional and innovative tea beverages, and immersive tea ceremony experiences
• Woop Woop Cafe – A brunch café specializing in açaí and healthy light bites
• Haul – A takeaway shop specializing in premium hand-brewed teas and specialty light bites
• MONO STUDIO – A one-stop travel photography studio offering styling and costume changes, on-location shoots and same-day photo
• KII KII – A Japanese-inspired lifestyle store combining curated vintage fashion, original-label apparel, light bites and coffee, collaborations with local IPs, and retro instant photography experiences

Selected enterprises receiving funding from the Shop Rebranding Programme are:

• Ngan Kong Hap Kei Cong Si – A traditional fabric shop established in the early 1950s, with over 70 years of history
• Carimbos Gravações Wan Chai – A local stamp and stationery shop whose brand was established around 1960 and has a history spanning over six decades, with its Rua das Estalagens store opening in 1974
• Artigos de Viagem Iat Seng – A local menswear retailer specializing in business attire, with over 30 years of history
• Ieng Seng Boutique – A local luggage and backpack retailer established in 2003, with over 23 years of history
• PANPAN – One of the selected projects of the 2024 Entrepreneurship Recruitment Programme for Rua das Estalagens, specializing in sourdough baked goods
• Macau Spirit – A brand established in 2016, with its Rua das Estalagens store opening in 2025, specializing in tanghulu (hawthorn berry) ice cream desserts
• PS–Together Pet Salon – A pet grooming and retail shop established in 2020
• UK CASTLE – A British-style takeaway eatery established in 2024
• FUWA FUWA CAKES – A local dessert and cake shop established in 2023
• Café Fantart – One of the selected projects of the 2024 Entrepreneurship Recruitment Programme for Rua das Estalagens, offering an innovative take on the traditional cha chaan teng (Hong Kong-style diner) with premium house-made pastries, a variety of baked goods and savory main dishes
• Ravina Limitada – A beverage shop specializing in rock tea (a type of oolong tea), established in 2023
• COME TRUE – A retail concept established in 2025, bringing together artisanal ice cream, tea beverages, desserts and locally designed apparel and lifestyle products
• Glow Gelato – A gelato shop and one of the selected projects of the 2024 Entrepreneurship Recruitment Programme for Rua das Estalagens

Sands China introduced its inaugural Entrepreneurship Recruitment Programme for Rua das Estalagens in April 2024, as part of the company’s multi-year support for the Macao SAR government’s revitalization plan for the region’s historic districts. The program’s inaugural session supported seven enterprises, and in addition to funding, Sands China helped boost visibility for the entrepreneurs through promotions, exhibitions and events across its properties. The first cohort of entrepreneurs fared well, with all breaking even in their first year of operation.

The Community Revitalization Programme for Rua das Estalagens 2026 is organized by Sands China and co-organized by the Macao Chamber of Commerce. The program operates under Sands China’s F.I.T. (financial support, interactive platform, and training and development) program for small and medium enterprises and the Sands Resorts Incubation Center.

To learn more about Sands China’s work with Macao businesses and Sands’ business development initiatives in its regions, read the company’s latest ESG report: https://www.sands.com/resources/reports/