MIF: Co-operation and Development Deepen the Role of Macao as a Trade and Economic Service Platform

On the second day of the 4-day 12th MIF, the “EU – Fujian – Macao Investment, Trade and Enterprise Co-operation Seminar” was held by Macau Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), to explore how the enterprises in Fujian are carrying out their “going global” strategy by way of Macao, to promote the trade and economic co-operation between China and EU, and to further deepen the role of Macao as a trade and economic service platform for the Portuguese speaking countries. At 3:00 PM this afternoon, a high level political and economic Forum “EU – Fujian – Macao Investment, Trade and Enterprise Co-operation Seminar” was held in Sicily Ballroom of the Venetian Macao Convention and Exhibition Center. Mr. Francis Tam Pak Yuen said in his speech that co-operation and development had become a prominent feature of the present era. Co-operation promotes development and development, in turn, advances co-operation. EU, Fujian and Macao are three distant regions, yet possess complementary and interconnecting advantages. He said that especially in recent years, the Fujian – Macao economic co-operation has promoted the important function of advancement. Macao will continue to develop her own advantages, by playing the role of a service platform and actively advancing EU-Fujian co-operation, to realize joint development and prosperity of the three regions. Mr. Ye Shuangyu, Vice Governor of the People’s Government of Fujian Province pointed out that Fujian and Macao possess special geographical and interpersonal ties. 1/4 of the population in Macao are of Fujian origin. In order to broaden co-operation, both sides have established a close relationship mechanism to further advance their mutual trade and economic co-operation. He pointed out that Fujian and EU have close ties in economic co-operation while EU is the second largest trading partner of Fujian. Last year, the imports and exports between the two sides amounted to USD 9.93 billion, representing an increase of 18.6% over the same period last year. At the end of last year, there were a total of 509 EU investments projects in Fujian, amounting to USD 1.45 billion. He expected that through the MIF this year Fujian would fully utilize Macao as a gateway and platform, to actively expand the trade and economic co-operation with the EU countries. Mr. Thomas Roe, head of the Office of European Commission in Hong Kong and Macao said that China is now the most dynamic country in the world and also an important co-operation partner of the EU. He hoped that by means of the role of Macao as a platform, to promote further co-operation between EU and China in the areas of trade and intellectual property. For the seminar, the organizer had invited Mr. Yang Biao, Director-General of the Fujian Department of Foreign Trade & Economic Co-operation, and Mr. Basílio Horta, President of Portugal Investment Agency Chairman, Mr. Michael O’Sullivan, Secretary General of European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, as speakers and Ms. Echo Chan, Executive Director of IPIM and Mr. Sales Marques, President of Institute of European Studies of Macau as moderators, who spoke on topics including how Fujian enterprises practiced the “going global” strategy through Macao, China-EU economic co-operation and accomplishment, as well as how the relationship between Macao and Portuguese-speaking countries impact on the building of EU market information platform for private enterprises. Other activities held today included more than 10 important trade and investment co-operation opportunities, namely “Seminar on the Promotion and Attraction of Chinese Investment in Angola”, “Business opportunities offered by SMEs from Poland”, “Shaanxi Investment Environment and Project Promotion Conference”, “Successful Branding vs Advertising Excellent Conference”, “Inner Mongolia-Macao Cooperation and Project Promotion Conference”, “Presentation of Shanghai World Expo 2010”, “Investment Opportunities in India”, “Guangzhou Panyu New Business Opportunity Seminar”, “China and the Portuguese-Speaking Countries-Products Sourcing - 2007”, with a total of 1,016 participants. On this second day, a total of 219 sessions of purchase negotiations and business matching were conducted, resulting in the signing of 6 agreements. Today is the first day for the 4-day fair to be opened to the public. A total of 15,694 visitors were registered. Some exhibitors of the MICE incubator pavilion said that participation in the MIF would help the enterprises to promote their brands which in turn could help to bring more trade and economic co-operation in the future. On the third day of the MIF, the programme of activities will include “Presentation Session on the potential for developing the scientific and technological cooperation between China and the Portuguese-speaking Countries”, “Day of two years anniversary” and “The Special features glorious placard award presentation”, “Technical Seminar on Ethanol, Methanol (A Gasline Additive)”, “SUPER STAR High tea gathering - Talk with Michael Miu”, “Work to retire = Retired to work?”, “Portuguese Wine and Olive Oil Tastings”, “UK Land - A Solid Investment”, “Wealth Management and Investment Strategies”, “Macau Human Resource Problems and Solutions”, and “Nikon Professional Photographic Seminar”. For the convenience of visitors who intend to drive to the MIF, the organizer has reserved the outdoor car park of Macao Dome for MIF visitors’ use, with free shuttle bus running between the Macao Dome and the MIF venue.