The rich businessman from Macao, Stanley Ho, has joined forces with his agent in Portugal, Jorge Ferro Ribeiro, to create Geocapital, a company capitalised at 10 million euros. This firm will enable private Chinese groups to establish in Portuguese-speaking countries, beginning with Mozambique.
Stanley Ho is the chairman of the Geocapital board, while Ferro Ribeiro is the executive chairman. Ribeiro, 49, of mixed race from Cape Verde, worked in the Portuguese ministry for international coordination from 1974 to 1975 under the then Minister, Antonio Almeida Santos. An eminent lawyer and former socialist Speaker of the Portuguese Parliament, Antonio Almeida Santos is also part of Stanley Ho’s inner circle. He became his partner in 2006 by acquiring 5% of Geocapital, whose general meeting he chairs.
INDIAN OCEAN NEWSLETTER - 20.01.2007