Like other organizations in Macau, CTM also suffers from a small talent pool. Macau is a relatively small place, so it was obvious local staff would jump on board the growth of the gaming industry. Salaries became inflated and it's difficult to compete for talent.

That said, the gaming industry has brought some positive factors. The recent development has raised interest among foreign-educated local born and raised individuals, prompting them to return. It is important to take in consideration that tertiary education was only introduced in Macau in the beginning of the '80s. So we're gradually witnessing a re-balancing of resources.

CWHK: What do you think it takes for Macau's younger generations to pursue a career in technology?

RM: The lack of interest among students in IT education remains a problem. I'm also a member of the advisory board at the local universities. We believe the problem can be addressed through the transformation of the IT industry itself.

There are a few developments that will probably boost such transformation. Things like cloud computing, context-aware computing and the new role of IT in the mobile workforce, as well as the wide spread adoption of smartphones and tablets.