Jointly organized by the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) and the Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Co-operation of Guangdong Province, and co-ordinated by the Macau Fair & Trade Association, the 2012 Guangdong-Macao Branded Products Fair (2012 GMBPF) will be held from 2 to 5 August at the Macau Fisherman's Wharf Convention and Exhibition Centre. The event takes up a total area of 6,000 square metres and converges trade, cultural exchange, shopping and entertainment into one economic and trade event. A major event to deepen exchange and co-operation and to explore business opportunities between Guangdong and Macao The first Guangdong-Macao Branded Products Fair was held in 2009 when the governments of the two territories started to make use of the event as one of the measures to strengthen economic and trade co-operation, as well as to step up Macao's moderate economic diversification. The GMBPF originated as an economic and trade event organized by the Guangdong and Macao governments, in line with the Outline of the Plan for the Reform and Development of the Pearl River Delta and the Strengthening of the Overall Strategic Co-operation Agreement signed by the two territories in March 2009. Following the signing of the Guangdong-Macao Co-operation Framework Agreement last year, there are increasing collaborations between the two territories, the role and the importance of GMBPF have been further enhanced. Based on the success of the past three years, 2012 GMBPF will help to promote closer co-operation and liaisons between Guangdong and Macao, to further explore markets and enhance businesses. Branded products of the Guangdong province could make use of the Macao business and trade platform to enter the Portuguese-speaking markets for more business opportunities. On the other hand, as the upsurge of Macao's consumer product prices over the past years has created heavy economic burden to the general public, it is hoped that GMBPF will bring along more options of branded products for Macao citizens and visitors, and enable local enterprises to have more channels of introducing products from difference regions and lower the costs . Selected quality enterprises The economic and trade promotion authorities of the Guangdong province have attached great importance to this event, and has designated the Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Co-operation of Guangdong Province to organize relevant branded products and enterprises to take part in the fair. To ensure the quality of the event, the relevant Mainland authorities and departments will be very careful in shortlisting participating enterprises and will give priorities to those enterprises which have been awarded as branded products or well-known brands at the provincial level. Generating new thematic fairs from GMBPF To extend the effect of GMBPF, the organizer will pave the way for potential products by organizing thematic fairs, in order to assist them to explore overseas markets especially those in the Portuguese-speaking countries. Therefore, the Guangdong Pavilion will abandon the old zonal arrangement which was based on province, municipality or local area. This year, the pavilion will be arranged according to the business sectors, and focus on promoting branded products in three major business categories, namely foodstuff, daily necessities and gifts, so that products could be more focused and will assist buyers to easily source their desirable products. The Macao Pavilion will continue to focus on Macao Brands and Made in Macao products. More products are also expected from the Portuguese-speaking countries; therefore, priorities for exhibition participation will be given to Macao enterprises which act as an agent of products of Portuguese-speaking countries. Voting events to introduce diversity, innovation and interaction
Among the rich array of activities and events arranged, parallel events are also organized to increase public awareness, service quality of on-site sales personnel and the publicity of branded products and participating enterprises. Business matching, product seminar and presentations as well as procurement negotiations will be held to fully utilize the role of Macao's regional service platform. This year, two new activities are introduced namely, the voting of The Best Sales Team of the Guangdong-Macao Branded Products Fair, and The Most Popular Guangdong-Macao Branded Product. In view of the popularity of the use of the Internet and smart phone, specially designed applications (APPs) are available for download to allow participants to vote for their favourites through the internet or their mobile phones. It is hoped that the new activities can help to enhance interactions and more young people will be involved. To enable participants to understand more about GMBPF, different cities of the Guangdong Province will set up exhibition boards to showcase their selected branded products at their 'City Galleries'. The organizer has also arranged cultural entertainments, lucky draws and consumption coupons for distribution upon entrance of GMBPF to make the event more entertaining and more carnival-like, and encourage participants to enjoy their visit and shopping in a relaxed atmosphere. The Guangdong-Macao Branded Products Fair has gradually become a reputable event in Macao, and has successfully attracted the participation of a large amount of businesspeople, the general public and visitors. The first GMBPF has attracted more than 100,000 visitors whereas last year's event was participated by 111,000 visitors. Three types of Macao enterprises will enjoy 60% subsidy as incentive
Similar to the previous GMBPFs, 2012 GMBPF offers an incentive measure of 60% subsidy to participating Macao enterprises which fall under the business categories of 'Made in Macao', 'Macao Brands', or Macau enterprises which act as agents for products from overseas (with those from the Portuguese-speaking countries given priorities). Eligible enterprises could opt for standard exhibition booths or basic booths. After discounting the subsidies, the former will be Mop2,800 each while the latter will be Mop2,000 per unit. Registration period runs from 21 May to 1 June, on a first-come-first-served basis. All Macao enterprises are welcome to make use of the GMBPF to explore their business opportunities. Please register early as the number of booths are limited. Note: Products 'Made in Macao' – for products Made in Macao and exported from Macao, exhibitors are required to present the Certificate of Origin issued by the Macao Economic Services. Alternatively, for products made in Macao for domestic sales, exhibitors are required present their industrial licence issued by the Macao Economic Services. "Macao Brands" Products
- Exhibitors must present the trademark registration issued by the Macao Economic Services or other valid documentary proof. - Products with Macao enterprises as the agent. Exhibitors must present the authorization letter for acting as the agent of the relevant product or other valid documentary proof. For further information about the 2012 Guangdong-Macao Branded Products Fair, please call the GMBPF Hotline on +853-87989277.
