The 2012 Macao International Environmental Protection Forum and Exhibition (2012MIECF) will be held from 29 to 31 March (Thursday to Saturday) at the Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel. A series of activities including Green Showcase, Green Forum and Green Matching will be held to showcase the latest products, technologies and related services in the environmental industry, to promote the development of local green industry, and further strengthen Macao´s role of business platform. MIECF is hosted by the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region, with the National Development and Reform Commission of the PRC, Ministry of Science and Technology of the PRC and the Ministry of Environmental Protection of the PRC as Special Supporting Organisations, the provincial governments of the Pan-Pearl River Delta Region as the co-organisers, as well as Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) and the Macao Environmental Protection Bureau (DSPA) as the Host Co-ordinators of the event. MIECF which has been held for the fifth consecutive year, is a major environmental event held annually in Macao. At the end of last year, MIECF has been awarded the UFI Approved Event Status, demonstrating that MIECF has received wide recognition by the industry since its inception in 2008. This theme this year is Green Economy – New Engine for Growth, complementing with the spirit of Thinking Green, Going Clean, Living Green which is in line with the development direction of worldwide environmental industry as well as Macao´s role as a World Tourism and Leisure Centre and low-carbon city. MIECF´s objective is to make use this unique platform to promote the development of green business, technologies and economy. As in the previous years, a series of activities including Green Showcase and Green Matching will be held during the 3-day event. Green Business Co-operation Day will take place in the afternoon of the first day of MIECF. Various themed discussions will be held on the second day under the Green Business Forum. The third day will be the Green Public Day which is open to the general public for free admission. Seminars and professional business negotiation sessions will also be held concurrently. Furthermore, in order to showcase the new developments of Macao, technical visits to the Macao New Zones Overall Planning exhibition and the Institute of Tourism Studies will be arranged for forum participants. The Green Showcase will feature products and solutions that are economically and environmentally-sustainable and provides business visitors networking opportunities in the fields energy efficiency, renewable energy, green mobility, waste and water management and other related services. There will be an Exhibition Zone for the Provinces of the Pan-PRD Region, European Pavilion, USA Exhibition Zone, Macao Exhibition Zone, as well as a "Distinguished Exhibitors´ Zone", featuring leading brands. Furthermore, a Green Hotel Sourcing Zone has been set-up to enable representatives of renowned environmentally-friendly hotels in Macao to conduct business negotiations on product and service procurement. On the first day of MIECF (29 March), there will be a series of activities to mark the Green Business Co-operation Day, namely the Green Business Forum, networking cocktail and signing ceremony. This year´s Green Business Forum will focus on two topics - energy efficiency and e-mobility, as the focus of business networking and exchanges. Forum participants include guests from Mainland China, especially from the Pan-PRD Region, Macao, Europe and the Portuguese-Speaking countries. In addition, high-ranking government officials, entrepreneurs and experts were also invited to discuss on the market trends of the environmental industry. The Secretary for Economy and Finance of Macao SAR, Mr. Tam Pak Yuen will attend the Green Business Co-operation Day and deliver the opening speech. The opening ceremony will be held on 29 March (Thursday). The Chief Executive of Macao SAR, Mr. Chui Sai On will officiate over the ceremony and deliver a welcome speech. Thematic speeches will be made by guests including Mr. Wan Gang, Vice-Chairman of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People´s Political Consultative Conference and Minister of Science and Technology of the PRC, Mr. Zhang Penggao, Deputy Director General of Resources Conservation and Environment Protection, National Development and Reform Commission of the PRC, representing Mr. Xie Shghua, Vice Chairman of National Development and Reform Commission of the PRC and Ms. Song Xiaozhi, Deputy Director General of Department of International Co-operation and Deputy Director of Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, Ministry of Environmental Protection of the PRC, representing Mr. Zhou Shengxian, Minister of Environmental Protection of the PRC. Speeches will also be made by keynote speaker Mr. Andrew Bowerbank, GMF Council Member of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. This year marks the fifth anniversary of MIECF. During the past four years, its scale and reputation have been growing steadily to become an important co-operation and development platform for the green industry, especially in Southern China and the Pan-PRD Region. Number of participants has increased from 2,495 in its inception in 2008 to 9,146 in the 4th MIECF in 2011. Participation from local environmental industry is also increasing every year. The Green Showcase, Green Business Forum and other activities held concurrently help to reinforce the liaison and exchanges between local environmental industry operators and foreign enterprises. On the other hand, there are also an increasing number of co-operation agreements signed between local enterprises and companies from abroad. Last year´s MIECF has attracted the participation of 333 organisations and companies from 48 countries and regions. During the 3-day event, a total of 574 green business matching sessions were held, resulting in the signing of 31 agreements. Over 390 exhibitors from 28 countries and regions are participating this year. In view of this, the area of the exhibition venue has increased to a total of 16,911 square metres. For enquiries, please contact the MIECF Secretariat, tel.: (853) 8798-9675, fax: 8853) 28722-3332, e-mail: miecf@koelnmesse.com.hk or visit the official website: www.macaomiecf.com
