Pharmaceuticals manufacturer Hovione has been awarded a Medal of Merit for industry and commerce in the government’s 2023 honours list, with Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng praising the company’s contributions to Macao’s emerging life sciences industry.

The Portuguese company’s Macao site manager, Eddy Leong, said in a statement that it was a “great honour” to receive the Medal of Merit – which he saw as a tribute to almost 40 years of local work in the science sector.

“At Hovione, we like to say that we are ‘in this for life’ and I feel that this award reflects not only our long and successful history in Macao, but also points to our successful future here,” he said. 

“It also reflects our commitment to work with partner organisations to create rewarding career opportunities in life sciences,” Leong added.

Hovione was founded in 1959 in Portugal and opened its Macao plant in the mid-1980s. The facility produces generic active pharmaceutical ingredients and is located in Taipa, on the site of the old Him Un Iec Kei Chan firecracker factory.

Other 2023 honourees include wushu athlete and Asian Games gold medalist Li Yi, who received a Silver Lotus, and the Portuguese-language educator Felizbina Carmelita Gomes – currently director of the D. José da Costa Nunes Kindergarten. Gomes was awarded a Medal of Merit for education.

Read more at Macao News