Angola - Guangdong - Macao Trade and Investment Forum draws in more than 250 attendees
Organised by the Agency for the Promotion of Investment and Exports of Angola, Department of Commerce of Guangdong Province, Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, Confederation of Angola Business Associations, co-organised by the Guangdong Enterprise Association for Foreign Economic Co-operation, “Angola - Guangdong - Macao Trade and Investment Forum” held today (19 October) in Macao as a key event of the 22nd Macao International Trade and Investment Fair (22nd MIF). The Forum has successfully attracted government officials, representatives of chamber of commerce and renowned entrepreneurs with around 250 guests to attend in sharing insights on how to strengthen co-operation between Angola, Guangdong and Macao. During the Forum, President of Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute Jackson Chang and Deputy Director of Department of Commerce of Guangdong Province Chen Yuehua signed the “Memorandum of Strategic Co-operation between the Department of Commerce of Guangdong Province and Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute” for enhancing collaboration between Guangdong and Macao.
Carry out closer co-operation in multi-sectors
The Secretary for Economy and Finance of Macao SAR, Leong Vai Tac, addressed in his speech that Angola and Guangdong province has always been two of the important partners of Macao. Angola and Guangdong being the ‘Partner Country’ and ‘Partner Province’ in this year MIF, the market opportunity in place is one of the main attraction of this edition. Angola, as one of the most important strategic partners in Africa of China, the trade volume between China and Angola recorded US$15.6 billion in 2016 and reached more than 100 Chinese enterprises established in Angola. Guangdong province has long been supporting Macao for our stable development, working together with Macao to seize and participate national development strategies, continuously strengthen co-operation in economic and trade, tourism and culture between the two regions. He expected that the Forum can showcase the newest economic and trade environment, elaborate the investment policies and provide means of co-operation to attain mutual development under the new economic situation. The construction of the “World Centre of Tourism and Leisure” and “Co-operation Service Platform in Economic and Trade between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries” will in turn enlarge the development space for Macao residents and enterprises, in particular, the small and medium-sized enterprises, professionals and young people.
Conducted marketing presentation of the three regionsfor their advantages and resources
The government officials and the representative of business sectors of Angola, Guangdong and Macao conducted the presentation of business environment and development perspectives in the Forum respectively. Head of Delegation of Partner Country Angola and Ambassador of Angola in China Joao Garcia Bires, Economic and Commercial Counsellor at the Consulate General of Angola in Macao, Representative of Angola at the Permanent Secretariat of Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao) Belarmino Paredes Vieira Barbosa, Chairman of Confederation of Angola Business Associations Francisco Viana conducted presentations about the policies of financial incentives of Angola for foreign investment, advantages of regional location and natural resources in order to attract foreign investments for the development of the economy. Member of CPC Leadership Group of People’s Government of Guangdong Province Chen Yunxian said Guangdong and Macao has engaged very closed co-operation, deepened co-operation in economic and trade, investment, tourism, culture, infrastructure and custom clearance would further achieve fruitful results. Angola is an important strategic partner of China in Africa and also plays an important role in the ‘Belt and Road’ Initiative. This Forum opened up new co-operation opportunity between Guangdong, Macao, Angola and other Portuguese-speaking countries for consolidating and proceeding international productivity co-operation. Executive Director of Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute Gloria Ung conducted presentation about the advantages of Macao as the service platform for economic and trade co-operation between Mainland China and Portuguese-speaking countries. She said Macao is at present actively promoting online and offline services for the construction of the “China and Portuguese-speaking Countries SMEs Business Services Centre”, “Portuguese-speaking Countries Food and Beverages Distribution Centre” and “China and Portuguese-speaking Countries Economic and Trade Co-operation Convention Centre”, including the launch of operation of “Economic and Trade Co-operation and Human Resources Portal between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries” since April 2015 and the launch of operation of “Portuguese-speaking Countries Food Exhibition Centre” since March 2016. In addition, Macao has increased 27 items of goods with customs exemptions in July 2017, of which many of the new exemptions are with relations to the products of Portuguese-speaking countries, therefore, Mainland China and Portuguese-speaking Countries are exploring to position Macao as a platform to enhance economic and trade co-operation.
Dialogues on thematic topics to explore opportunities
Inthe Industrial Parks and Thematic Business Speeches session of the Forum, Deputy General Manager of Bank of China, Macau Branch, Ip Sio Kai, General Manager of Guangdong Hengjian Investment Holding Co. Ltd. Tang Jun, Director of the Technical Unit for Support to Private Investment of the Ministry of Construction of the Government of Angola Committee, Guangzhou, Qiu Weiqing, Chairman of Board of Directors of the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Luanda-Bengo, Antonio de Lemos, Director of China-Portuguese Speaking Countries Investment Management Company Limited Song Yunsong respectively expressed their views about the opportunities and prospects of industrial integration between enterprises of the three regions, about how to exert the effectiveness of the China-Portuguese Speaking Countries platform, about the opportunities sincethe China-Portuguese Speaking Countries Co-operation and Development Fund establishedin Macaoand about the business environment of the Tianhe District of Guangzhou as well as the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) of Luanda-Bengo .
