MIF : 2007 Macao International Convention & Exhibition CEO Conference

The 12th Macao International Trade and Investment Fair (MIF) 2007 Macao International Convention & Exhibition CEO Conference “Strengthen International Cooperation Of Convention & Exhibition Industry, Create A Prosperous Future Together” 18th October 2007 The “Macao International Convention & Exhibition CEO Conference 2007” constitutes one of the main activities of the 12th Macao International Trade and Investment Fair (MIF) with the objective of strengthening the co-operation and exchange between the MICE industry players in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and overseas countries. Participants have explored the future trend of the international and local MICE industry in an interactive manner, which has provided facilitation and assistance to exchange and co-operation within the sector. In the afternoon of 18th October, the “Macao International Convention & Exhibition CEO Conference 2007”, organized by “China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) & Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) and co-organized by Macao Economic Services, China Association For Exhibition Centers (TBC), Guang Dong Province Convention & Exhibition Association, Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Association, Guangzhou Convention & Exhibition Association, Taiwan International Convention & Exhibition Association, Taipei Business Association for Exhibition & Convention Industry, Macao Convention & Exhibition Association, Macau Fair &Trade Association, Association of Advertising Agents of Macau, The Venetian Macau Limited, Macau Tower Convention & Exhibition Centre (TBC) and Macau Fisherman Wharf Convention & Exhibition Centre, was held at Sicily Ballroom of The Venetian Macao Convention and Exhibition Center. The theme of the Conference was “Strengthen International Cooperation Of Convention & Exhibition Industry, Create A Prosperous Future Together”. Mr. Francis Tam Pak Yuen, Secretary for Economy & Finance of Macao S.A.R. said in his speech that establishing an integrated tourist centre and building a regional, trade and economic service platform is the objective of the Macao S.A.R. government in promoting the moderate diversification of the economy and is also one of the key policies of the Macao S.A.R. The development of the MICE industry constitutes an integral part of building Macao into a regional service platform as it not only contributes to the addition of new tourism elements, but more importantly helps to enrich the content of the service industry in Macao. He pointed out that the S.A.R. government will adopt measures in areas of administrative service, resources imput, human resources policy and coordination and guidance. Greater efforts will be made to promote the development of the MICE sector in order to enable the sector to become a new growth point of Macao’s economy and to develop gradually the MICE sector into a leading industry to run parallel with the gaming industry. He expected that through this conference the CEOs from the both sides of the Strait, US, UK and Portuguese speaking countries would be able to enhance communication and reach a consensus, and jointly work for a bright future of Macao’s and the international MICE industry. He believed that the conference today would facilitate the understanding and further co-operation among the members of the MICE sector in Macao and overseas. Mr. Yu Ping, Vice President of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) gave a brief introduction of the development of the international and China’s MICE industry. He said that at present a new wave of regional co-operation in the MICE sector was spreading throughout China. The domains of co-operation have deepened into exhibition organization, venue operation, as well as education and training. The activities within the sector have been particularly dynamic. He cordially hoped that the MICE sector of Macao were able to seize the development opportunity in the Mainland market by carrying out deeper and broader co-operation in different forms with the Mainland. He said that the MICE industry, a key industry for Macao in the future, has been highly regarded by the S.A.R. Government and the MICE sector itself. Under the background of the signing of the new CEPA supplementary agreement between Macao and the Mainland and along with the completion of new large scale exhibition facilities in Macao, the MICE sector of Macao, the exhibitions and enterprises in the Mainland will have more interactions. A new outlook of prosperity is destined to appear. CCPIT and its subsidiaries entities will, as in the past, support and coordinate with IPIM and the Macao S.A.R. Government to develop the strategies for the MICE industry, and jointly contribute to the prosperity and development of the MICE economy of Macao. The other guests present included Ms. Tan yan-juan, Deputy Director of Economy Department of Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in Macao SAR; Mr. Lee Peng Hong, President of Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), Macao Economic Service and other consultants of MIF International Consultation Committee. During the seminar section, two major topics were discussed, namely the exploration of the business opportunities of the MICE industry in Asia, and the regional development trend. Guest hosts included Ms. Chen Ruowei, member of MIF International Advisory Committee, Former UFI Vice President, Former Chairwoman of CAEC and Mr. Edmund Wong, Council Chairman of Association of Advertising Agents of Macao. The panelists included Mr. Sandy Angus, Former UFI President, Chairman of Andry Montgomery Ltd, Mr. Wolfram Diener, Vice President, Conventions and Exhibitions, The Venetian Macau Limited, Ms. Fatima Vila Maior, Representative from Portuguese Convention and Exhibition Sector, Mr. Stanley Chu, Chairman of the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Association, Mr. Jin ZhongYun, Chairman of Macao Convention & Exhibition Association, Mr. Li ,xia-hui, General Secretary of the Guangzhou Association of Convention & Exhibition Industry, Mr. Tu Chien-Kuo, President of Taiwan International Convention & Exhibition Association. They had introduced the MICE Industry in the Mainland, Hong Kong, Macao, and overseas, and jointly explored the local and international trends of co-operation and development of the MICE industry. About 250 guests and representatives attended the Forum.