21st Macao International Trade and Investment Fair Opening on Thursday, Strengthening the Sino-Portuguese Platform Function through setting up “Partner Country” & “Partner City” (Updated)

The 21st Macao International Trade and Investment Fair (21st MIF) will be held from 20 to 22 October (Thursday to Saturday) at the Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel. Throughout the 20-year path of development, MIF further reinforces the function of Macao as the “commercial and trade cooperation service platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries” and increases its international influence, this year the model of “Partner Country” and “Partner City” are being set up for the first time, and Portugal and Beijing have been specially invited to serve as the Partner Country and the Partner City respectively. Both sides are organising high-level delegation groups, seeking bilateral and multilateral co-operation opportunities through large exhibitions and displays and promoting activities, and further enhancing Macao's development of moderate economic diversification. Based on the previous experiences while summarising the examples of lessons learnt in the global and neighbouring regions, the duration of this year’s MIF will be reduced to three days. The theme of MIF this year is again “Co-operation – Key to Business Opportunities”, the exhibition space is more than 30,000 square metres, setting up over 1,600 exhibition booths and several different exhibition areas. The Fair has attracted the participation of delegations from over 50 countries and regions. Partner Country - Portugal and Partner City - Beijing, diversifying the exhibition and allowing business opportunities to flourish The “Partner Country - Portugal Pavilion” and the “Partner City - Beijing Pavilion”, which have been set up for the first time in this year’s MIF, cover over 800 square metres in total. The Portugal Pavilion is themed as “Surprising Portugal” and presents the country’s economic and trade investment environment, infrastructure and future development direction. The Beijing Pavilion is divided into several exhibition areas, including Service and Trade Exhibition Area, Traditional Chinese Medicine Exhibition Area, Beijing International Horticultural Exposition 2019 Exhibition Area, Beijing Olympic Winter Games in 2022 Exhibition Area, Pinggu District Exhibition Area., which are all providing investment and co-operation opportunities for participants. Besides presentations with pictures and displays, numerous innovative interactive experiences are also waiting for visitors, including an interactive experience with robots; health counselling by Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners and advice on a healthy diet using Traditional Chinese Medicine: live demonstrations of Chinese Ba Duan Jin and other healthy exercises; the Olympic Winter Games division will build an ice rink for a small ice sports demonstration, and visitors are welcome to experience the joy of ice skating too; furthermore, there are new agricultural products for visitors to taste on site. Aiming to further expand the influence of Beijing as the “Partner City”, the “Beijing Time-honoured Brands Pavilion” exhibition area will also be set up. Besides showcasing a number of intangible cultural heritage contents, there are also various traditional Beijing delicacies on display which will also be for sale.. During MIF, visitors will be able to submerge themselves in the Beijing glamour with their eyes and taste buds. “Portuguese-speaking Countries Products and Services Exhibition” with fashion show for the first time In addition, with the aim of further extending the function of the “Partner Country” and the “Partner City” in MIF through diversified approaches and complying with the advantage of Macao as the “commercial and trade cooperation service platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries”, this year the “Portuguese-speaking Countries Products and Services Exhibition” will be held concurrently with an exhibition area of over 1,800 square metres, attracting more than 140 exhibitors to take part. Besides, for the first time a Portuguese-speaking Countries Fashion Show activity would be included in the exhibition, and will be held every afternoon during the three-day Fair. The fashion show has invited many local and Portuguese-speaking Countries’ fashion brand enterprises, including Macao fashion designing brand “Lines Lab”, the Macao local brand “Macarica”, whose operation is specially targeting exports to Portuguese-speaking Countries, the Nadir Tati from Angola, the Domingos Totora from Brazil, plus the Aforest Design, Burel Factory and Qwiu from Portugal, which all are providing a visual way to appreciate the glamourous fashions from Portuguese-speaking Countries. In addition, this year’s MIF also sets up for the first time the “Commercial and Trade Service Area for SMEs between China and PSCs”, which will provide information relating to the products, services, investment projects and business legislation of the “Economic & Trade Co-operation and Human Resources Portal Between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries” for those who are intending to expand the markets in Portuguese-speaking countries. More than 40 forums, promotion meetings and seminars are being held concurrently during or prior to MIF, including the “2nd Young Entrepreneurs Forum of China and Portuguese-speaking Countries” which will be held on 19 October; the “Portugal-Beijing-Macao Trade and Investment Seminar”, “Opening Ceremony of The 6th Jiangsu – Macau • Portuguese-Speaking Countries Business Forum and the Introduction Meeting of the City of Changzhou”, “Fujian, Macao and Portuguese-Speaking Countries Economic Exchange Networking Session”, the “13th World Summit of Chinese Entrepreneurs”., which are all going to be held from 20 to 22 October. Online business matching services, devoted to enhancing efficiency MIF is devoted to providing participated enterprises and exhibitors with professional services on business matching and negotiations. The online “Business Matching Service” platform is established this year with self-service matching function (http://bm.ipim.gov.mo/); with the help of this platform, participating entrepreneurs can find business opportunities for development, transition and entrepreneurship by combining it with their exhibition booth and delegations. MIF will be open to professional visitors from 20 October, and be open to public on 21 and 22 October. A free shuttle bus service is provided for visitors to go to several places in the North District, Central District and Taipa. The service aims to encourage green transportation and promote community economy. For any enquiries, please contact MIF Administrative Centre on ＋853-2882 8711 or via email: info@mif.com.mo . For the most up-to-date information please add the official Wechat account: MIFMacau or visit the official website: www.mif.com.mo.