Several interesting activities were held at the exhibition venue
The 20th Macao International Trade and Investment Fair (MIF) was officially inaugurated on 22 October at the Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel. Occupying an area of over 3,700 square metres, the event showcase products and services from over 50 countries and region, including, the “Business and Trade Co-operation Service Platform between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries”, “free trade zones”, “small and medium-sized enterprises”, “young entrepreneurship”, “Internet+”, “Traditional Chinese Medicine”, and “cultural and creative industries”, with over 1,900 booths, all of them availing of this cross-industries platform to create business opportunities. Furthermore, the organiser has arranged the signing of 17 co-operation agreements on the first day of MIF, as well as approximately 90 business negotiation sessions at the Business Matching Zone specially for professional buyers. The officiating guests included the Chief Executive of Macao SAR, Mr Chui Sai On, Deputy Director General of the Liaison Office of the Central People´s Government in the Macao SAR, Mr Li Gang, Deputy Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People´s Republic of China in the Macao SAR, Mr Pan Yun Dong, Secretary of state for Planning and Regional Integration of Guinea Bissau, Mr Degol Mendes, Deputy Minister of Commerce, Industry and Environment of East Timor, Mr Filipus Nino Pereira, Vice Minister of the State Ethnic Affairs Commission, Mr Luo Li Ming, Vice Mayor of the People´s Republic of Beijing Municipality, Mr Cheng Hong, Vice Governor of the People´s Government of Jiangsu Province, Mr Zhang Lei, Vice Governor of the People´s Government of Shaanxi Province, Ms Wang Li Xia, Secretary for Economy and Finance of the Macao SAR, Mr Leong Vai Tac, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AICEP Portugal Global, Mr Miguel Frasquilho, Vice Chairman of China Council for the International Trade, Mr Yin Zhong Hua, Vice Chairman of All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, Mr Su Zhi Gang, Deputy Secretary-General of the People´s Government of Guangdong Province, Mr Zhang Ai Jun and the President of Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, Mr Jackson Chang. In his welcome speech, the Secretary for Economy and Finance of Macao SAR, Mr Leong Vai Tac said that Macao has accumulated twenty years of experience in the organisation of this major event and that the degree of international participation and scale of the MIF has been enhancing, with continuous innovation of its concept and presentation. And that, through a series of activities and services, MIF aims to reinforce regional co-operation and to show to Mainland China and abroad the advantages of Macao as a World Tourism and Leisure Centre as well as a Business and Trade Co-operation Service Platform between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries. He stressed that, in the future, MIF will continue to utilise its role as a regional branded exhibition, and will focus on the introduction of more innovative elements in order to be in line with the national development strategy of the “Belt and Road” initiative and the positioning of the Macao´s development as “One Centre, One Platform”, with constant improvements and upgrading. A variety of activities held on the 1st day of the MIF For the first time, an “exhibition-within-an-exhibition” concept has been introduced, in the form of the “Portuguese-speaking Countries Products and Services Exhibition”, the opening ceremony of which was also held today. In his speech at the opening ceremony, Mr Jackson Chang, President of IPIM, said that, in order to better develop the role as the Business and Trade Co-operation Service Platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries, and to advance the construction of the three strategic centres, the “Portuguese-speaking Countries Products and Services Exhibition” was set up covering a total of 2,000 square metres. The exhibition attracted over 150 enterprises from seven Portuguese-speaking countries showcasing their products shown at the venue, involving several sectors, such as food and beverages, tourism, financial services, E-commerce and education. Furthermore, at the same time, a “Portal Professional Service Supplier Exhibition Area” was also set up, with the participation of 16 professional suppliers already registered in the “Economic & Trade Co-operation and Human Resources Portal between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries”, including, mainly, translation services, media, convention and exhibition, advertisement, e-commerce, accounting and retail services. In addition, several forums were also held on the first day of the MIF, such as the “International Trade and Investment Forum 2015”, with discussions focusing on the “Belt and Road” initiative and regional development co-operation; the “Zhuhai Cross-border E-commerce Conference” which focused on promoting the Zhuhai´s bonded area and investment guidance on the Zhuhai-Macao Cross-Border Industrial Area, as well as the “2015 Macao International Design Exhibition – The Cultivation of International Design Talents and the Combination of Enterprises Development Needs” Forum. Other current activities included the “Fujian, Macao and Portuguese-Speaking Countries Economic Exchange Networking Session” and the “Macao Fashion Festival 2015”. 17 Agreements Signed on the First Day of the MIF Furthermore, approximately 90 business negotiation sessions were held at the Business Matching Zone. A ceremony was also held for the signing of 17 co-operation agreements, including co-operation agreement between the China Council for International Trade (CCPIT) and the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), co-operation framework agreement on business convention and market development between Guangxi and Macao, memorandum of co-operation between the Department of Commerce of Hunan Province and the Macao Convention and Exhibition Association, memorandum of co-operation between the Xiamen Municipal Bureau of Convention and Exhibition Affairs and the Macao Convention and exhibition Association, memorandum of co-operation between the China Chamber of International Commerce Anhui Chamber of Commerce and the Macao Convention and Exhibition Association, co-operation framework agreement between the College of International Education of the Beijing Institute of Technology, Zhuhai and AGPM, co-operation framework agreement between CS Global Consultancy Limited and AGPM, as well as the letter of intent for co-operation of the Shi Ji Hua Mao project in Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province. MIF Opened to the Public for Three Consecutive Days Starting from 23 October Major events to be held on 23 October include the “SME International Business Days Opening Ceremony, Cocktail Reception and Protocol Singing Ceremony”, “Seminar on SMEs and Leveraging Business Capacity – Transform and Leverage your Business to Grass Opportunities”, “5th Jiangsu-Macau‧Portuguese-Speaking Countries Business Forum”, “Beijing‧Macao‧Portuguese-speaking Countries Matchmaking Symposium for Co-operation Projects”, “The Forum of Excellence in Achievement of World Chinese Youth Entrepreneurs”, as well as seminars and presentations on the “Three Centres” and the “Economic & Trade Co-operation and Human Resources Portal between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries”. MIF will be opened to the public starting from tomorrow until 25 October. Free shuttle bus service is available during the MIF period at the following locations: Avenida Marginal do Hipódromo (near OCBC Wing Hang Bank Areia Preita Branch), Avenida Doutor Mário Soares (near Macau Square), Avenida Conselheiro Ferreira de Almeida (near Pak Vai bus stop), Avenida do Guimarães, at Taipa (Central Park, Nova Park). The general public may also park at the public car park of the Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel or at Central Park and then take the shuttle bus to the venue.
