The “20th Macao International Trade and Investment Fair” (20th MIF) will be held at the Venetian-Macao-Resort-Hotel from 22 to 25 October 2015. The event is organised by the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM). The World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA) is invited as Special Supporting Organisation while 15 local, Mainland China, and Hong Kong economic and trade authorities or trade associations are invited as event co-organisers. The Macao Convention & Exhibition Association, Macau Fair & Trade Association, and Association of Advertising Agents of Macau are joint co-ordinators of the event. Expanded SME Exhibition Area to embrace Cultural and Creative Industry This year, the Macao SME Pavilion will be jointly organised by Macao Chamber of Commerce and IPIM, with Macau Small and Medium Enterprises Association and Macau Business Women’s Association as co-organisers. Macao Convention & Exhibition Association, Macau Fair & Trade Association, and Association of Advertising Agents of Macau are joint co-ordinators. The main objective of the Pavilion is to promote and sell specialty products that are either “Made in Macao”, sold under a “Macau Brand”, or “Represented by Macao Enterprises”. The organisers will continue to provide support and incentives to participating exhibitors. As improvement from previous MIFs, a “Creative Power Exhibition Area” will be added this year to create a unique display area for Macao SMEs in the cultural creative domain. Developing the cultural creative industry is one of the key driving forces to diversify the Macao economy. Further incentives will be offered to qualified exhibitors or cultural creative entrepreneurs looking to use the area to exhibit, sell, or promote their brand products. This will be a great opportunity for them to test market responses and explore potential business cooperation opportunities. At the same time, interactive activities such as on-site demonstrations and small workshops will be held at the Area to encourage interaction and experience sharing between the public and the exhibitors. Approximately 100 booths are planned for the “Macau SME Pavilion”. A wide magnitude of businesses will be represented in the Pavilion, focusing mainly on souvenirs, food and beverage, products from Portuguese-speaking countries, and cultural creative products. Other products such as household items, electronic gadgets, handicrafts/accessories will also be displayed. Continuing to offer Multiple Incentives and Services The organiser will continue to subsidise local SMEs to participate in MIF. Qualified SMEs will receive a 60% discount on the price of the booth. With the 60% subsidy, the price of a standard 9m2 booth will be reduced from MOP9,000 to MOP3,600. Exhibitors will receive an additional 10% discount if they register before 22 May 2015. Exhibitors who have previously participated in exhibitions organised by IPIM will receive a 10% discount. Therefore, exhibitors who satisfy both conditions will receive a total of 20% additional discount, meaning that their fee for one exhibition booth will be reduced to MOP2,880. Exhibitors who are endorsed by related cultural creative organisations/associations or have previously participated in related cultural creative exhibitions organised by the government (must submit related written proof) will receive a further subsidy of MOP880/booth, meaning that the exhibition fee per booth will be MOP2,000 (size of each booth will be approximately 6 m2). The organiser will provide many enhanced services at the Macau SME Pavilion during the 20th MIF. A centralized and well-equipped cashier accepting credit card payment will be set up within the Macau SME Pavilion. Based on experience from previous years, this will help to improve payment efficiency. Moreover, the organiser will work with MIF appointed banks to provide capital management consultation services to exhibiting SMEs. The “Subsidy Program on New Business Opportunity Cultivation for SME” will continue during this MIF. The organiser will provide free promotion for SMEs that participate in sponsored lucky draw or offer merchandise discount. Information on their special offers will be advertised on related newspapers, magazines, event program, mobile phone apps, and social media platforms in order to help attract more visitors to the show. Exhibitor Application starts in May The organiser will accept application to “Macau SME Pavilion” from 18 to 29 May, Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 17:30. The applicants should bring their registration form and required information in person and submit them to the offices of Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) (1) Address: 20th Floor, China Civil Plaza Building, 263 Alameda Dr. Carlos d’Assumpção, Macao or, (2)Address: 4th Floor, World Trade Centre, no. 918, Avenida da Amizade. For further information on the 20th MIF, please contact the Administrative and Service Centre of the MIF Co-ordinator at Tel: +853 2882 8711, Fax: +853 2882 8722, or visit the MIF website at www.mif.com.mo.
