On July 6, Melco hosted a training program at Studio City in partnership with anti-modern slavery non-profit The Mekong Club, as part of its ongoing SME Academy initiative to promote lifelong learning and support the capacity-building needs of local businesses and SMEs.
The session featured presentations on human rights, modern slavery, and sustainable products by The Mekong Club’s Senior Programme Manager, Catherine Cheung, and Melco Senior Manager for Sustainability, Hannah Chung, drawing more than 60 participants from 44 local SME businesses.
To support development and growth, the event also offered a business networking session for representatives from local SMEs and Melco to meet with one another to better understand mutual business requirements and offerings, as well as identify opportunities for collaboration.
One of the SME participants, Ms. Caryi Cheung, Quality Assurance Officer of City Gourmet Company Limited, commented on the initiative: “Thanks to this training program offered by Melco, I now have a deeper understanding of ‘modern slavery,’ ‘forced labor,’ and the concept of ‘sustainability’. I used to think such issues only existed in history books or distant regions, but the guest speaker made me realize that modern slavery has infiltrated global supply chains in subtle ways, such as debt bondage, confiscation of documents, and restriction of personal freedom.”
“This training highlighted that, beyond price and quality, compliance and social responsibility are essential factors in supplier evaluation and selection. It also deepened my understanding of sustainable development and the importance of corporate responsibility in driving positive social and environmental impact. These considerations must be incorporated into everyday business operations and decision-making,” Ms. Caryi Cheung said.
Since its launch in 2017, Melco SME Academy has supported local suppliers and SMEs by providing training, technical expertise and insights into emerging industry trends, helping them navigate evolving business challenges. In 2025 alone, the program delivered 13 workshops attended by 646 participants from 319 SMEs.
