Many companies identify business opportunities from the Business Matching Area and the “Online Business Matching Service Platform” during the three-day exhibitions
The “23rd Macao International Trade and Investment Fair” (23rd MIF) and the “2018 Portuguese Speaking Countries Products and Services Exhibition (Macao)” (2018 PLPEX) concluded with great success today (20 October). During the three-day events, a total of 75 agreements were signed in the Signing Centre, covering co-operation between governments and associations, MICE, cross-border e-commerce, tourism, cultural and creative industries, environmental protection technologies, talent development, research into healthcare big data, and product manufacturing, promotion and agency. In addition, over 400 matching sessions were held in the Business Matching Area.
The two exhibitions served as platforms for product promotion and exhibition as well as for communication and exchange among companies from Macao, Mainland China, Portuguese-speaking countries, countries and regions along the Belt and Road, and other regions across the world, to support their efforts to “go global” and “bring in investment” and broaden the space for development. The events also demonstrated the vitality of Macao’s diversified economic growth. Over 30 forums, conferences and promotion sessions were held during the 23rd MIF and the 2018 PLPEX. This year’s MIF invited Mozambique and Fujian Province as its “Partner Country” and “Partner Province”, each with a themed pavilion.
This year’s MIF inherited the theme “Co-operation –Key to Business Opportunities”. It covered an area of 24,000 square metres, with more than 1,500 booths. In addition, the exhibition area of the 2018 PLPEX increased to over 6,000 square metres, attracting companies from the eight Portuguese-speaking countries, as well as PSC products and services agents from Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao.
This year, the two exhibitions were enhanced with new elements. A number of themed exhibition areas were set up for the first time including the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Business Zone, the Guizhou Congjiang Pavilion, the Smart Zone, the Youth Entrepreneurship Pavilion, the Featured Finance Pavilion, the Brazil Unmanned Shop Experience Zone (Brazil Center), and the China-PSC E-commerce Experience Pavilion, which received a great flow of visitors during the three-day event. At the same time, the “8th Asian Trade Promotion Forum (ATPF) Joint Exhibition” was held in parallel with the 23rd MIF. Representatives of the trade promotion organisations of ATPF were brought together to discuss co-operation, seek common development and share opportunities. An effective exchange and matching platform was created though this joint exhibition for companies at home and abroad and trade promotion institutions.
This year, the two exhibitions aimed to help enterprises integrate themselves into the “Belt and Road” development, seize opportunities arising from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and bring in more business opportunities by taking advantage of Macao’s role as a platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. Activities held during the two exhibitions included the “Mozambique-Fujian-Macao Trade and Investment Forum”, the “8th Jiangsu-Macao · Portuguese-speaking Countries Business Forum”, the “15th World Summit of Chinese Entrepreneurs”, and the “4th Young Entrepreneurs Forum of China and Portuguese-speaking countries”. These activities greatly expanded the knowledge and exchanges of the latest information and promoted commercial and trade co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, delivering more opportunities for co-operation and development to companies.
On the last day,the two exhibitions continued to offer a diverse array of activities, including the “2018 PLPEX Portuguese-speaking Countries Food Experience Zone”, the “Portuguese-speaking Countries Cross-border E-commerce Workshop”, and the “‘Style‧Encounter Moment’ Fashion Parade of the 5th Subsidy Programme for Fashion Design on Sample Making”, as well as thePortuguese-speaking Countries cultural music/dance performances and fashion shows. Among them, the “2018 PLPEX Portuguese-speaking Countries Food Experience Zone” attracted hundreds of traders. A large number ofbusinesspeopleand residents were having loads of fun in the distinctive cultural music/dance performances and fashion shows of Portuguese-speaking countries.
Activitieswithdiversity
Freddy Ritchie, a representative of a Brazilian beverage and drinking water company who participated in the “2018 PLPEX Portuguese-speaking Countries Food Experience” as one of its suppliers, said that more exhibitors and participants had come to know more about the high-quality food from Portuguese-speaking countries through this experience activity. He spoke highly of the professionalism of the exhibitions, during which many business deals were concluded. Compared with last year’s activities, this year’s exhibitions delivered his company a greater number of outcomes, with which he was really satisfied. Mr Wong, a representative from a Macao company, who had participated in the exhibitions for many years in succession, was also very pleased with what his company had achieved during this year’s MIF and PLPEX. He expected more elements to be added into future exhibitions to create a broader platform for exhibitors to explore business opportunities. A local resident from Macao Mr Lei said this year’s MIF and PLPEX featured a diverse array of activities and each exhibition zone had its own characteristics, adding that food from Portuguese-speaking countries tasted so unique as to arouse his desire to purchase some more in the future. Many cultural and fashion shows were held during the food experience activity to demonstrate the charm of different cultures.
The 24th MIF and the 2019 PLPEX will be held from 17 to 19 October 2019.
