The 16th Macao International Trade and Investment Fair (MIF), the annual trade and economic event of Macao, inaugurated today (20th October 2011). On the first day of the Fair, 536 sessions of business matching were conducted and 15 protocols signed. Grand Opening Ceremony
The opening ceremony was held this morning in the Sicily Room of the Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel, in the presence of over 350 delegations from more than 60 countries and regions. Officiating guests included Dr. Chui Sai On, Chief Executive of Macao SAR, Mr. Bai Zhijian, Director General of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR, Mr. Zhou Bo, Deputy Director of Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Ms. Helena Nosolini Embaló, Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Integration, Guinea-Bissau, Mr. João Mendes Gonçalves, Minister of Economy and Development of East Timor, Mr. Hu Zhengyue, Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Macao SAR, Mr. Zhang Weiguo, Vice Governor of the People's Government of Jiangsu Province, Ms. Hua Jianhui, Vice Governor of the People's Government of Anhui Province, Mr. Li Rui, Vice Governor of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Mr. Ye Shuangyu, Vice Governor of the People's Government of Fujian Province, Mr. Hong Lihe, Vice Governor of the People's Government of Jiangxi Province, Mr. Xiao Yayu, Deputy Director of Hunan Provincial People's Congress Standing Committee, Mr. Francis Tam Pak Yuen, Secretary for Economy and Finance of the Macao SAR, Mr. Yu Ping, Vice chairman of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), Mr. Liu Zhiqiang, Vice Chairman of All-China Federation of Industry & Commerce, Mr. Tang Bingquan, Vice Chairman of Guangdong Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Mr. Fang Xiaofang, Vice Chairman of Sichuan Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Mr. Zhao Jie, Representative of the Vice Governor of the People's Government of Heilongjiang Province, and Mr. Cheong Chou Weng, President of Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute. The theme of MIF this year "Co-operation – Key to Business Opportunities" aims to make use of Macao's unique advantage of a blending of eastern and western cultures, to effectively advance the role of a regional trade and business service platform, where exhibitors and guests from all over the world showcase their products, services and technologies, deepen mutual understanding and connection, promote bilateral exchanges, and embrace together a new round of business opportunities for co-operation and development, said Secretary Francis Tam Pak Yuen in his address to the opening ceremony. International Trade and Investment Forum 2011
A multitude of forums, seminars and presentations will be held during the MIF period. Among others, the "International Trade and Investment Forum 2011" held this afternoon served as the most important forum of the MIF every year. In recent years, the Forum had invited high level personalities and prominent experts from around the world to be keynote speakers. The officiating guests of the Forum this year included Mr. Francis Tam Pak Yuen, Secretary for Economy and Finance of the Macao SAR, Ms. Helena Nosolini Embaló, Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Integration, Guinea-Bissau, Mr. João Mendes Gonçalves, Minister of Economy and Development of East Timor, and Mr. Cao Yuanzheng, Chief Economist of Bank of China. During the Forum, Secretary Francis Tam Pak Yuen delivered the opening remarks, followed by the speeches of the keynote speakers, namely Ms. Helena Nosolini Embaló, Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Integration, Guinea-Bissau, Mr. João Mendes Gonçalves, Minister of Economy and Development of East Timor, Mr. Yu Ping, Vice chairman of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), Mr. Liu Zhiqiang, Vice Chairman of All-China Federation of Industry & Commerce, and Mr. Kou Hoi In, President of the Board of Directors, Macao Chamber of Commerce. With the theme of "Regional Co-operation to Explore New Development", the speakers have carried out in-depth explorations into the global economic development trends, the role of Macao as a trade and business service platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries, and the promotion of exchange and co-operation in green industries business opportunities, technological innovation and nurturing of talents in the region. Besides, Mr. Cao Yuanzheng, Chief Economist of Bank of China and receiver of special subsidy granted by the State Council, delivered his speech entitled "China in the Rebalancing of the World Economy". The Forum was well attended by some 300 representatives from the government entities, trade and investment promotion organizations, chambers of commerce and enterprises from Macao, Hong Kong, Portuguese-speaking countries and other overseas countries. Numerous Business Matching Sessions Conducted and Protocols Signed on First Day
On 20th October, the first day of MIF conducted as many as 536 sessions of business matching and 15 protocols were signed. The protocols signed were related to a four-star resort hotel project and extension, a friendly co-operation alliance agreement, a cooperation project for the utilization of kitchen wastes, the restructuring of a rice company of Heilongjiang Province, a dealer contract of Apple products, an investment contract for a sea travel project in Macao, co-operation in the production of LED environmental friendly lighting goods, sole distributorship of coffee products in Hong Kong and Macao, distributorship of garments, health products and floor boards. More Highlighted Seminars and Presentations Tomorrow
The 16th MIF will be organizing a vast array of seminars and presentations on the second day, including "Beijing-Macao-EU Cultural & Creative Industry Cooperation and Promotion Meeting & Signing Ceremony", "Policy Innovation and Investment Promotion Seminar of Hengqin New Area", "Beijing Cultural and Creative Company Business Matchmaking Meeting & Specialized Buyers Meeting", "SME International Business Days Opening Ceremony and Protocol Signing Ceremony", "E-commerce Seminar (Alibaba.com and Taobao.com)", Seminar on EU-Macao Business Opportunities "Cultural and Creative Industry Co-operation－Inspire, Innovate, Motivate", "Nansha New Zone Investment Environment Seminar", and "How to Turn Good Ideas into Franchise Businesses", and more. Open to Public Tomorrow and More Facilitating Services for Visitors
Free Shuttle Buses: The 16th MIF will be open to the public from 21st to 23rd Oct. Free shuttle bus service to and from the MIF venue will be available for both trade visitors and the public. Parking: Holders of MIF admission ticket may enjoy up to 4 hours free parking at the guest car park of the Venetian from 21st to 23rd Oct. For further enquiries about The 16th Macao International Trade and Investment Fair (MIF), please contact us at the hotline tel: (853) 2882 8711, fax: (853) 2882 8722 or visit our website at: www.mif.com.mo
