Major Event to Foster Guangdong-Macao Trade and Economic Cooperation 2011 Guangdong-Macao Branded Products Fair will be held soon Jointly organized by the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) and the Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation of Guangdong Province, the 2011 Guangdong & Macao Branded Products Fair (2011 GMBPF) will be held from July 28 to 31, for four consecutive days, at the Convention and Exhibition Centre of Macau Fisherman´s Wharf. All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and the Trade Development Bureau of Ministry of Commerce, PRC have been specially invited as Supporting Organizations for the event. Over 40 government bureaus and trade promotion institutions from Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao are acting as co-organizers. 2011 GMBPF is co-ordinated by the Macau Fair & Trade Association. Stressing the Importance of the Guangdong-Macao Cooperation Framework Agreement 2011 Macao & Guangdong Branded Products Fair is a major trade and economic event developed from the foundation of the Western Guangdong Famous Products Fair which was held in 2003. Based upon such experience and cooperation, the two territories have successively organized two editions of the Guangdong-Macao Branded Products Fair, in 2009 and 2010, respectively, to jointly make use of the common experience towards trade and economic cooperation in the region. Guangdong & Macao Branded Products Fair has become an important activity and means for the trade and economic cooperation between the two economies, by providing new markets and broader opportunities for enterprises and branded products of the two territories. While Macao is pursuing the role as trade and economic cooperation platform between China and the Portuguese-Speaking markets, GMBPF is also a catalytic role to play in assisting enterprises from Guangdong Province to "expand abroad" and to "attract foreign investment", apart from the opening-up of the markets in the Portuguese-Speaking countries. The signing of the Guangdong-Macao Cooperation Framework Agreement by the respective governments, in March this year, marks the beginning of a new round of in-depth cooperation between the two territories. 2011 GMBPF is an important trade and economic event organized by the trade promotion institutions and enterprises of the two territories pursuant to the terms of the above-mentioned Agreement. The trade promotion organizations of both territories attach great importance to this event, and all preparatory works have been carried out smoothly, as a result of careful planning and organization. Products on Exhibition Highlight Brand Effects 2011 GMBPF continues to offer some of the features of the past editions, by focusing on the positioning of Macao as world tourism and leisure centre and its role as trade and economic platform. GMBPF also aims to jointly promote the adequate diversification of Macao´s economy, so as to develop business opportunities abroad for the Guangdong and Macao enterprises, as well as to accelerate the transformation of Guangdong´s economic structure and its industrial upgrading. As in the past, GMBPF will continue to actively promote branded products from enterprises of both territories, as a mean to promote such products to the local residents and tourists, given that GMBPF will be a colourful event embracing shopping, cultural exchange and entertainment, that aims to increase the influence and penetration of Guangdong´s branded products in Macao. 2011 GMBPF venue will cover an area of around 6,000 square metres, divided into areas as the followings: an exhibition and retail area and an area exclusively reserved for exhibition. There are altogether 267 booths in the exhibition and retail area, including 85 for Macao products and the remaining 182 for products from Guangdong Province. Branded products for exhibition and sale include foodstuff, daily necessities, electronic products and arts and crafts, from Macao and major cities in Guangdong Province. This year, a "City Exhibit Gallery" products display area has been introduced to showcase selected branded products. To coincide with the economic diversification of Macao´s economy and to highlight made in Macao branded products and Macao´s cultural and creative industries, a "M in M" (Made in Macao) and a "Cultural and Creative Area" will debut in the Macao Exhibition Area, to showcase Macao´s branded and typical products. Recruitment Plans are jointly devised by Trade Promotion Organizations of the two Territories In organizing this year´s edition of the GMBPF, Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) have set its priorities in the branding effects of the participating exhibitors, by selecting and exhibiting branded products preferred by trade visitors from abroad, and local residents. Another step is to provide a certain degree of financial support to the local exhibitors, in line with government's policies and regulations, such incentive has greatly aroused exhibitors´ enthusiasm. Lastly, a multi-level organization has been devised to attract enterprises´ participation. For instance, in addition to IPIM, local chambers of commerce and business associations contributed with their efforts, by organizing and mobilizing the participation of their members. As a result of these efforts, response to the local recruitment of exhibitors was overwhelming. The Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation of Guangdong Province also attaches great importance to the GMBPF, having organized its subordinated units from 21 prefecture-level municipalities in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Shantou, Foshan, Shaoguan, Heyuan, Meizhou, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, Yangjiang, Zhanjiang, Maoming, Zhaoqing, Qinyuan, Chaozhou, Jieyang, Yunfu, as well as from Shunde District, to participate in this event. Subsequent to the organization and the mobilization by the mentioned trade and economic units above, response has been active and enthusiastic. Facing with many applications from the enterprises, the Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation of Guangdong Province has selected 161 enterprises, many of them are front-line well-known brands, including 98 enterprises with products honoured as branded products at national or provincial (Guangdong) levels, 25 enterprises whose branded products are being actively nurtured by the Ministry of Commerce and the Guangdong Province to develop into international brands. Apart from this, 52 exhibitors are leading enterprises in their respective industries. Cultural and Creative Industries Forum and Seminar on Promotion of Own Brands to the International Market Debut in the 2011 GMBPF In recent years, cultural and creative industries are booming in Mainland China and the consumer market in cultural items is prospering along with the improvement in people´s livelihood. All these factors have contributed to the creation of favourable conditions for the cultural and creative industries. In line with the Guangdong-Macao Cooperation Framework Agreement, to jointly promote cultural and creative industries, Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) and the Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation of Guangdong Province are organizingthe Macao & Guangdong Cultural and Creative Industries Development and Cooperation Forum for the first time. Topic of the mentioned forum will be "How to Build a Guangdong-Macao Cultural and Creative Industry Development and Cooperation Platform". Representatives of the concerned bureaus from Guangdong Province and leaders of the Macao industrial and commercial sectors will exchange and share their experiences on the topic. The Organizers expect that the Forum will broaden and strengthen cooperation between Guangdong and Macao, in the development of talents and the increase of cultural and creative radiation in the region. Furthermore, during the Fair, Macao Trade and Promotion Institute (IPIM) and the Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation of Guangdong Province will also organize a "Seminar on Promotion of Own Brands to the International Market". Successful establishment of a brand will not only bring about huge profits to the concerned company but also social recognition, and therefore brand promotion carries strategic meaning as far as an enterprise is concerned. "Seminar on Promotion of Own Brands to the International Market" will have some famous experts and scholars to be the keynote speakers, and will consist of speech and panel discussions mainly evolving around brand building, value, demand trends in the brand market, strategy for promotion of own brand, selection of business model and related issues to consider. In addition, field visits will also be organized for the participants to enterprises in the related industries in Macao. Product Presentations Seminars – Platform for Participating Exhibitors and Enterprises During the 2011 GMBPF, several product presentations seminars will be held, including those with the following topics: "Health Value of Natural Soda Water", "Let Macao Become a World Tourism and Leisure Centre", "World-famous Wuliangye and its Wines Series", "The Era of Xingjiu Energy Saving", "Embroidery Chaozhou-Style", "Bank of China´s Mobile Banking Services", "Traditional China Tea Art Performance", "Herbal Medicine – Types, Characteristics and Effects of Ganoderma Lucidum and Coriolus Versicolor", etc. Furthermore, business matching will be held to promote cooperation between Guangdong and Macao procurement managers with enterprises of branded products, as a mean to jointly promote the development of the Guangdong-Macao trade and economic platform. As in the past, the Organizers have invited over 25 famous procurement enterprises from home and abroad to conduct business negotiations in the venue with the participating exhibitors and enterprises. A business matching and procurement area has been especially set-up, as platform for enterprises from both territories to develop and activate the retail markets from home and abroad, and to create favourable conditions and business opportunities for the branded products from Guangdong Province to enter the Portuguese-Speaking Countries. To further expand the influence of the 2011 MGBPF
Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) will continue to promote the 2011 Guangdong and Macao Branded Products Fair on an on-going basis, by uploading exhibitors´ information and photos of the products on IPIM´s website (www.ipim.gov.mo) for long-term promotion so as to provide a never-ending virtual publicity platform for the Guangdong and Macao branded products. Furthermore, business opportunities abound in the Guangdong & Macao Branded Products Fair. Availing of this opportunity of concentration of merchants, the Organizers will hold a comprehensive promotion of Macao´s branded products. In this connection, visitors will be guided to "Macao Ideas", the display centre of Macao´s products, opened in early May this year, where products "Made in Macao", products carrying the "Macao Brands" and products "Designed in Macao", along with products from the Portuguese-Speaking Countries with authority of agency in Macao are on display. The advantages of the platform created by the Guangdong-Macao Branded Products Fair are thus clearly put into evidence. Grand Carnival-type Event (A Carnival of multi-colours) 2011 Guangdong & Macao Branded Products Fair is a carnival-style grand event, embracing trade, cultural exchange, shopping, leisure and entertainment, rich in content and full of highlights. Special attractions include "Big Discounts for Branded Products", "Consumption Coupons", "Lucky Draw" as well as cultural and artistic performances and other activities. Lucky draws will be held every day. During the first three days of the Fair (July 28, 29 and 30), lucky draw will be held daily at 5:45 p.m., while the Grand Lucky Draw will be held at 7:30 p.m. on the last day (July 31). Cultural and artistic performances will be one of the major attractive activities during the GMBPF. This year, there will again be exciting performances by singers and artists from Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, including Vincy Chan, Hanjin Tan and Zhou Bohao, who will all perform live performance for the audience. There will be different remarkable activities every day, so please follow closely the event´s announcements, which will be published at the official website and major newspapers. Trade Visitors and Local Residents Cordially Welcome To facilitate public participation, the Organizers will provide free shuttle bus services to and from the venue, departing from Macao and Taipa downtowns, respectively. Apart from the bus route of the past editions (Avenida Doutor Mario Soares – Macau Square – Avenida Conselheiro Ferreira de Almeida (close to the bus stop at Pak Vai Plaza, Rua Gago Coutinho) - Estrada Marginal do Hipodromo – Royal Supermarket (Iao Hon) - Bordergate (Portas do Cerco) - Macau Maritime Terminal and each official hotel, the Organizers have also added a shuttle bus stop at the Estrada Governador Albano de Oliveira (Entrance of Tai Fung Bank, Taipa Branch) for transportation of visitors to and from the venue. In addition, free parking for up to three hours is also available at the Macau Fisherman´s Wharf, courtesy of the Organizers. All four days of the 2011 Guangdong and Macao Branded Fairs are open to the public. The Organizers cordially welcome all merchants from home and abroad as well as Macao residents and tourists from all over the world to participate in this grand trade and economic event jointly organized by the two territories and to experience the exciting carnival atmosphere. Opening hours: July 28 (Thursday): from 12:00 noon to 8:00 p.m. July 29 to 31 (Friday, Saturday and Sunday), from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. For further information on 2011 Guangdong & Macao Branded Products Fair, please call 853-87989605 or navigate the following official website: http://www.guangdongmacao.fair.com
