Linguistic barrier continues to hinder Lusophone business in China

A founder president of the Portuguese-speaking Business Circle (CNLP), Olga Amorim, argued that the main difficulty faced by the Lusophone companies seeking to expand to China remains the language barrier.

Present at the 31st edition of the Macau International Fair (MIF), Olga Amorim indicated that the formalization of the CNLP subsidiary in Macao has already been carried out, in what it intends to be a “business platform to strengthen trade links between companies in the Portuguese-speaking countries, China and other international markets”.

“Our great difficulty is really the language,” said the person responsible, stressing that many companies face barriers in communication due to the use of Cantonese and Mandarin and, in some cases, the limited use of English by local partners.

According to the leader, the aim of the organization is not only to facilitate the entry of foreign products and services into Asia, but also to create conditions for Chinese and Asian companies to expand their presence on other continents.

“We’re not just here to bring products and services to Macau or China. We also want to bring products and services from Asia to Europe, Africa and the United States,” he said.

“ We must work on confidence and credibility in the market. It is a process that takes time and that is built”, he said.

Lusophone exports to China recorded the best start of the year ever, rising by 22.1% to USD 105.8 billion (EUR 94.3 billion) between January and August this year.

The founding president of CNLP also recognised that regulatory requirements continue to pose a challenge for companies interested in entering the Chinese market, especially at the level of certifications and compliance with legal requirements for each sector.

“ The regulations for importing products to China have also been difficult, but this is beyond what people really want,” he said.

Olga Amorim argued that many companies address internationalization without a sufficiently defined strategy, seeking to enter several markets at the same time.

“ We must first understand which markets we want to enter. We cannot simply say that we want to sell internationally. We need to focus on one or two markets and work on the certifications and legislation of these countries,” he said.

According to the responsible, adaptation to the rules of each jurisdiction should be seen as an integral part of the international expansion process, requiring specialized preparation and monitoring. “At the level of legislation, we have to work, we have to support and we have to organize,” he said.

The leader also stressed the importance of institutional support to overcome some of the regulatory obstacles by defending close cooperation between companies and public authorities.

“ We have all the government support here in China and Macao, but also in other countries and continents, to help create these strategic links,” he said.

While admitting that regulatory changes may be difficult to implement, Olga Amorim considered that the development of the legal and administrative framework also depends on the capacity for dialogue between the different economic actors.

“ Until we change minds, we don't grow up. We need to create these partnerships. It is not easy and we are absolutely aware of it, but we believe in change ", declared.

Olga Amorim also revealed that companies linked to the international network of CNLP jointly generated around seven million euros of turnover during the first and a half years of the organization's activity.

She said she hoped that by March 2027 the CNLP could attract Chinese and Macau companies interested in expanding to European, African and North American markets.