The 16th edition of the Macao International Trade and Investment Fair (MIF) will take place from October 20 to 23 (Thursday to Wednesday) at the Convention and Exhibition Centre of Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel. The event is organized by the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) and governmental co-organizers include the Economic Services Bureau of Macao SAR, Macau Government Tourist Office, Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation of Guangdong Province and Chongqing Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Commission. Other co-organizers are: Macao Chamber of Commerce, Industrial Association of Macau, Macau Importers and Exporters Association, Association of Knitting and Spinning Industry of Macao, Macau Shippers´ Association, Macau Association of Banks, Macao Association of Building Contractors and Developers, The Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Association of Macau, The Macau Chinese Enterprises Association and The Chinese Manufacturers´ Association of Hong Kong. The Permanent Secretariat of the Forum on Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and the Portuguese-Speaking Countries (Macao), International Lusophone Markets Business Association and the World Federation of Chinese Entrepreneurs Organization will act as partner organizations. The Macao Convention & Exhibition Association, Macao Fair & Trade Association and the Association of Advertising Agents of Macao will be in charge of coordination of the 16th MIF. The MIF is entering into its 16th edition this year. Macao International Trade and Investment Fair is the largest and the most important international economic and trade event held annually in Macao. Last year, there were 1400 booths, having attracted 760 exhibitors and eighty thousand visitors. A total of 1151 business matching sessions were held, culminated with the signing of 62 cooperation protocols, involving business up to the extent of 4 Billion Patacas. During the 4-day event, 35 forums and presentations were held, with 6700 participants. This clearly demonstrates that the MIF has effectively assumed its role as a regional service platform and a bridge for economic and trade exchanges. This year, MIF will maintain the theme "Cooperation – Key to Business Opportunities". By setting-up themed pavilions, conferences with different features, business matching activities and sourcing negotiations, MIF aims to further develop Macao as a world tourism and leisure centre and regional business service platform, while promoting the moderate diversification of Macao´s economy. MIF will display products, services, technology and investment projects of the exhibitors - companies and organizations - from Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, as well as from the Portuguese-Speaking Countries and other countries, to promote cooperation and exchange in such areas as economic, commercial, investment, tourism, MICE, creative industries, so as to jointly meet the new round of development opportunities. New Highlights to Develop Regional Cooperation To further promote the integration within MIF´s traditional markets (Mainland China, Hong Kong, Portuguese-Speaking countries and Macao) and to strengthen market ties with Taiwan, Southeast Asian Countries, Europe and The Americas, so as to broaden the development space for the MIF, a series of new measures were introduced, in the context of the content and professional services, to highlight the theme of the MIF - cooperation and development. Special Zones to Create more Business Opportunities In order to provide more investment and cooperation projects for the selection of the participants, in this edition of the MIF, besides improvement to the Industrial and Creative Zones, Electrical Appliances Zone and Taiwan Pavilion, and enrichment of the content in the SME´s Retail Sale Zone and Digital Technology Zone, new thematic zones will be introduced, for exhibition of mahogany furniture and small commodities. Promotional seminars to link-up the SMEs With a view of strengthening the cooperation between Guangdong and Macao, under the Guangdong-Macao Cooperation Framework Agreement, the MIF will offer a Hengqin (Zhuhai) Exhibition Zone as well as a Nansha (Guangzhou) Exhibition Zone. Besides, in addition to a series of presentations on investment opportunities in Hengqin and Nansha, to provide cooperation and development opportunities to the SMEs, especially those from the above-mentioned territories. Participation of more professional visitors to promote multi-pairing Invitations were sent out to a large number of sourcing companies, leading enterprises and professional visitors to the thematic zones. The Organizers will provide "MIF Express" and "Special Benefits to Professional Visitors", in a bid to enhance the effectiveness of the business matching and negotiations. Optimization of "One Trip, Multiple-Stop" Service, to Share Synergy To further improve the effectiveness to the participants, MIF will continue to cooperate actively with its neighbouring partners to provide the "One Trip, Multiple-Stop" program, by organizing for the MIF participants, visits departing from Macao, to the Canton Fair and on-site inspection trips to Hengqin (Zhuhai) and Nansha (Guangzhou), in order to attract a larger number of participants and to share synergy, while providing the greatest benefits and more business opportunities to the participants. Furthermore, taking advantage of the platform provided by the MIF to promote "Made in Macao", "Macao Brand" and "Macao Design" products, as well as products from the Portuguese-Speaking Countries with agents in Macao, the Organizer will direct professional visitors to the recently-opened "Macao Ideas" – Macao Products Display Centre, where the afore-mentioned articles are on display. Professional Fashion Show to show Lifestyle and Creativity In cooperation with the Macao Cultural Institute and the Macau Productivity and Technology Transfer Centre, respectively, MIF will continue to offer a Cultural and Creative Zone and also a Professional Fashion Show Zone, which will serve as cooperation and exchange platforms for the cultural and creative industry-related companies, designers, design agencies, brand operation organizations and apparel manufactures. Distinct Themes to Highlight the Trade and Investment Aspect Covering an area of 30 thousand square metres, the MIF venue will hold 1600 booths. Main exhibition zones include the Exhibition Zones of Provinces and Municipalities of Mainland China, the Portuguese-Speaking Countries Pavilion, the European Pavilion, Macao Pavilion, Hengqin (Zhuhai) Exhibition Zone, Nansha (Guangzhou) Exhibition Zone, Cultural and Creative Zone, Apparel Zone, Electrical Appliances Zone and Mahogany Furniture Zone. Retail Zones include the Macau SMEs´ Zone, Taiwan Pavilion and the Digital Equipment Zone. Forums to promote cooperation and development "International Trade and Investment Forum 2011" and the "8th World Chinese Entrepreneurs Summit" will be held during the 16th MIF, where participants from Mainland China and abroad will discuss about economic and trade cooperation and development. Besides, several government entities and chambers of commerce, from Macao, Mainland China and abroad, will organize forums and seminars on trade cooperation and other specialized matters. A number of incentives to encourage SMEs´ participation To enable local the SMEs to make better use of the MIF platform to open-up business opportunities, the Organizer will continue to subside the local SMEs and provide a number of preferential treatments, as follows: • Special discount in booth rental There will be 140 booths in the "Macao SMEs ´Zone". The Organizer will provide the following benefits to eligible local SMEs: 40% off the booth rental, i.e., for a 9 square metres booth, after subsidy provided by the Organizer, the rental will be MOP3,600.00. Registration before July 20 will enjoy a 10% discount. Participants in previous local exhibitions organized by IPIM will be entitled to a 10% discount. • Additional Benefits Each exhibitor is entitled to broadcast its short advertising video in the 12 Macao Trade and Invest Kiosks, free of charge. Booths applications will be treated in accordance with the principle availability and priority. Geographic allocation will be made by means of lucky draw. Applications for exhibition at the "SME Zone" will be accepted from July 14 to 27 (Monday to Friday), from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Applicants should come in person to the MIF Administrative and Services Centre and bring along the relevant application form together with the required documents. A briefing and recruitment session for the "Macao SME Zone" of the 16th MIF will be held on July 13, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., at the Macao Business Support Centre (MBSC). SMEs interested to participate as exhibitors in the "SME Zone" are welcome. A vast array of services provided by the MIF To assist the local SMEs to explore business opportunities and to find suitable partners, the Organizer will provide a series of business matching services, covering business matching in franchise and chain store operations, brand agencies and other projects. Both on-line pre-business matching and on-site business matching services are available. For details, please call: (853) 2872 8328. During the preparations period of the MIF, the "MIF Administrative and Support Centre", located at the Macao Business Support Centre (MBSC) (Alameda Dr. Carlos d´Assumpção, no. 263, 20th Floor) will provide a wide range of services to the exhibitors and other merchants, from home and abroad. For further information about the 16th Macao International Trade and Investment Fair, please call MIF´s hotline at 853-28828711, fax (853-28828722 or visit the following official website: ww.mif.com.mo.
