The 12th Macao International Trade and Investment Fair (MIF) Opens Today

The 12th Macao International Trade and Investment Fair (MIF) was inaugurated today (18th October 2007) at 10:30 AM at the Venetian Macao Convention and Exhibition Center. Chief Executive Mr. Ho Hau Wah of the Macao SAR and 11 guests jointly officiated at the Opening Ceremony, with the impressive attendance of more than 1000 guests from 50 countries and regions. It is the first time that the ever-largest MIF is being held at the Venetian Macao Convention and Exhibition Center. Guests officiating at the Opening Ceremony include: Mr. Edmund Ho Hau Wah, Chief Executive of Macao Special Administrative Region, Mr. Herry Mane, Minister of Commerce, Tourism and Handraft of Guine Bissau, Ms Gao Yan, Deputy Director General of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao Special Administrative Region, Mr. Zhou Bo, Deputy Director of Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr. Wan Yongxiang, Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Macao Special Administrative Region, Mr. Tang Bingquan, Executive Vice Governor of the People’s Government of Guangdong Province, Mr. Ye Shuangyu, Vice Governor of the People’s Government of Fujian Province, Mr. Francis Tam Pak Yuen, Secretary for Economy and Finance of the Macao Special Administrative Region, Mr. Yu Ping, Vice Chairman of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, and Mr. Jing Chongyun, Director of 12th MIF Organizing Committee and Chairman of Macao Convention and Exhibition Association. Lee Peng Hong said in his speech that the MIF, in addition to advancing the role of Macao as a trade and economic platform, provides Macao’s business sector, particularly the Small and Medium Enterprises an opportunity to get in line with the international standards and improve their competitiveness. Besides, it is the first time that the MIF has the coordination of 3 MICE associations of Macao, combining the strengths of the sector and provides the MICE sector an opportunity for practice and improvement. In the grand exhibition venue of over 18,000 square meters, there are a total of 889 booths, representing an increase of 170% over last year’s record of 326 booths. There are 15 thematic pavilions, more than 30 sessions of international forums, conferences, seminars and presentations, and over 428 sessions of pre-arranged business matching, a year-on-year increase of 30%. In terms of scale, level and degree of internationalization, the MIF this year has surpassed its previous editions. As at 5:00 PM, a total of 11,866 visits have been registered for the first day. Over 500 professional visitors have participated in the forums, conferences, seminars and presentations. With the participation of 236 delegations from 50 countries and regions including the Mainland, Europe, Asia, and Portuguese Speaking Countries, a total of 130 sessions of purchase negotiations and business matching have been conducted on site, with 10 agreements signed with respect to such areas as product distribution, trade and investment, banks, hotels, industry, convention and education. Organised by Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, Investment Promotion Agency of Ministry of Commerce of the PRC and Macao Chamber of Commerce, the “International Trade and Investment Forum 2007” was held at 3:00 PM. Mr. Francis Tam, Secretary for Economy and Finance of Macao SAR together with other guests, have delivered their speech with the theme of “Advantages are merged to create great business opportunities”, so as to jointly promote regional and cross-boundary trade and economic co-operation. At 4:00 PM, another major activity of the MIF, “Macao International Exhibition CEO Conference 2007” was held, which congregated the MICE professionals from the Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao, who explored together the future trends of the MICE of Macao and the impact on the society and economy in an interactive way. Regarding seminars and presentations, the “Portugal Day” has been held on the first day of the MIF. The organiser of the event has adopted the actual image and broad vision of Portugal, with an aim of providing all the participating Portuguese enterprises an opportunity to get in close contact with the high level businesspeople and make good use of the business negotiation function of the MIF. The programme of activities for the second day of the 12th MIF include “European Union-Fujian-Macao Economic Co-operation Seminar”, “Seminar on the Promotion and Attraction of Chinese Investment in Angola”, “Business Opportunities offered by SMEs from Poland”, “Shaanxi Investment Environment and Project Promotion Conference”, “Successful Branding vs Advertising Excellent” Conference”, “Inner Mongolia-Macao Cooperation and Project Promotion Conference”, “Presentation of Shanghai World Expo 2010”, “Investment Opportunities in India”, “Guangzhou Panyu New Business Opportunity Seminar”, and “China and the Portuguese-Speaking Countries-Products Sourcing – 2007”.