The internal consumer market in Mainland China has been growing in recent years, the expansion and stimulation of internal consumption has become the priority work under the 12th Five-Year Plan of the People's Republic of China. The rapid growing middle-class which leads to the surge in demand for all kinds of goods, together with the implementation of the Mainland and Macao Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA), has brought along substantial business opportunities to Macao enterprises. In order to assist local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to gain better understanding of the internal consumption market and further develop retail sales, the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), in conjunction with the Foreign Trade and Economic Bureau of Guangdong Province, organised a Macao business delegation for a fact-finding visit from 29 to 30 May. The delegation comprised of 43 members and visited Jiangmen and Foshan, the second- and third-tier cities located in Guangdong Province. The visit, entitled "Exploring Retail Opportunities – Macao SMEs' Visit to Guangdong Internal Market", consisted of seminars on the environment of internal markets , site visits and experience-sharing sessions from Mainland enterprises, and enabled Macao SMEs to have a better understanding of the business opportunities available in the two municipalities. Members of the Macao business delegation come from several business sectors, including food and beverage, trade, banking, e-commerce, photography, gifts and souvenirs. A Series of Activities to Assist Macao SMEs to Gain Better Understanding of the Internal Market On the first day of the visit, members of the Macao business delegation attended a seminar on current Jiangmen´s investment environment and internal consumption. Sun Bin, Deputy Director of Guangdong Board of Investment, made a presentation on the investment environment of the province. Other speakers included Zhou Wen, Director of the Jiangmen Foreign Trade and Economic Co-operation Bureau, Huang Jianmin, Deputy Director of the Jiangmen Economic and Information Technology Bureau, Chen Xiaogang, Deputy Director of the Jiangmen Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarentine Bureau, and Qiu Bozhu, Director of the Jiangmen Division of Customs Processing Trade Management Supervision. They shared their experiences with the Macao business delegation and answered their enquiries regarding wine tariffs, procedures and taxes for the import of gold, as well as brand and patent registrations. IPIM hosted a dinner on the same evening, to provide exchange opportunities for members of the Macao business delegation. Over 10 members of the Jiangmen business community were invited and they shared their insights with the Macao entrepreneurs, in a relaxed mood. During their visit to Foshan , members of the delegation participated in an exchange session with members of the local government and were received by Song Deping, Vice Mayor of the Foshan People's Municipal Government. Jackson Chang, President of IPIM, gave a speech on Macao's investment environment and the development of MICE industry. He also expressed hope that Macao and Foshan entrepreneurs could jointly explore business opportunities and said that Foshan enterprises are always welcome to invest in Macao. During the interactive Q&A sessions, members of the business delegation discussed with local government representatives on issues regarding preferential policies, intellectual property, company registration and procedures for the import and export of merchandises. Site Visits Seeking for Business Opportunities The Organiser has also arranged site visits to several local enterprises, including Winall Industries Ltd, Olson Food Company (Jiangmen) Ltd, Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Co Ltd and the German Pool Kitchen Equipment Limited. The delegation also visited the central commercial districts to learn more about local internal consumption market and business environment, and made enquiries to participating enterprises on market potential as well as human resources supply, in order to get themselves better prepared for the future development of the markets. Members of the delegation included Jackson Chang, President of IPIM, , Echo Chan, Executive Director of IPIM, Shun Ka Hung, Director General of the Macao Productivity and Transfer Centre, Lei Chi Fong, President of Chancheng Region Friendship Association (Macau), Eduardo Ambrosio, President of the Executive Committee of the International Lusophone Markets Business Association, Chan San Tou, President of the Board of Directors of the Chaozhou Natives Association of Macau and Tylor Ian, Assistant Manager of IPIM´s SME Service Centre.
