The 14th Macao International Trade and Investment Fair (MIF) was inaugurated today (22nd October) at 11:00 AM at The Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel. The Opening Ceremony received an impressive attendance of more than 3,000 guests from 61 countries and regions of the world. The dignitaries who officiated at the Opening Ceremony included: Mr. Edmund Ho, Chief Executive of Macao Special Administrative Region, Mr. Chen Yun Lin, Chairman of Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits, Ms. Gao Yan, Deputy Director 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, Dr. Thomas G. Aquino, Senior Undersecretary of the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry, Mr. Song Yanbin, Deputy Commissioner of The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Macao Special Administrative Region, Mr. Sun Yao, Vice Governor of People’s Government of Heilongjiang Province, Mr. Ye Shuangyu, Vice Governor of the People’s Government of Fujian Province, Mr. Huang Xiaoxiang, Vice Governor of People’s government of Sichuan Province, Mr. Francis Tam Pak Yuen, Secretary for Economy and Finance of the Macao Special Administrative Region, Mr. Tang Bingquan, Vice Chairman of Guangdong Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Mr. Zhang Wei, Vice Chairman of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Quang Ninh Province, Dr. Lee Peng Hong, President of Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) and Mr. Hoi Sai Iun, President of Board of Directors of Macao Chamber of Commerce. According to Lee Peng Hong at the opening ceremony, the organizational scale, no. of participating countries and regions, and radiative impact of the 14th would be the largest ever. More than 288 business delegations from 61 countries and regions, comprising more than 3,000 delegates from home and abroad participated in the 14th MIF, and a total of 1,074 exhibition booths are installed. With the view to provide a series of opportunities for members of the political and business sectors and guests from different places of the world to exchange information and deepen their cooperation, a total of 33 forums, seminars and promotion events as well as 839 business matching activities have been arranged. With the theme of “Diversity – Key to Extending A Decade Of Prosperity”, this year’s MIF will present Macao’s achievements in economic construction and social development in the past decade, promote Macao’s investment environment and market dynamics and explore future development. Meanwhile, MIF serves to further advance Macao’s advantage as a trade and economic co-operation service platform, promote Macao’s moderate economic diversification, and regional co-operation and exchange, and assist local and overseas enterprises (especially SMEs) to expand market networks and explore new scope for business development. The 14th Macao International Trade and Investment Fair (MIF) is organised by Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), co-organised by the Macao Chamber of Commerce, Industrial Association of Macao, Macao Importers and Exporters Association, Association of Knitting and Spinning Industry of Macao, Macao Shipper’s Association, The Macao Association of Banks, Macao Association of Building Contractors and Developers, The Macao Small and Medium Enterprises Association, The Macao Chinese Enterprises Association, Chongqing Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Commission, The Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong, and coordinated by the Macao Convention and Exhibition Association, the Macau Fair and Trade Association and the Association of Advertising Agents of Macau. The Fair runs from today (22nd) until Sunday 25th October 2009 at the Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel.
