Enterprises participate in “China and Portuguese Speaking Countries SMEs Investment and Trade Matchmaking Event”
The “22nd Macao International Trade and Investment Fair” (22nd MIF) and “2017 Portuguese-Speaking-Countries Products and Services Exhibition (Macao)” (2017 PLPEX) are now in their second day and have successfully held a number of forums, meetings and activities with features in relation to the “Belt and Road”, “Sino-Portuguese Platform” and “Big Data”, to assist enterprises grasp hold of new market moves in all directions. A total of 160 matching sessions were conducted in the Business Matching Area and 17 agreements were signed in the Signing Centre on the second day.
The 14th World Summit of Chinese Entrepreneurs opened today (20th) with the theme “Industrial and Regional Economic Development in Big Data Era” to explore the strategic meanings, commercial values and daily impact on public life as well as the development opportunities in “Guangdong - Hong Kong - Macao Great Bay Area”, attracting more than 1500 guests to attend. On behalf of Chief Executive of Macao SAR, Secretary for Economy and Finance of Macao SAR Government Leong Vai Tac addressed in his speech that the Macao SAR Government released a “Five-year Plan” last year and in the Policy Addresses of the last two years clearly defined the goal of establishing Macao as a “Smart City” and related work to achieve this is underway. Looking to the future, investors from all over the world including Chinese entrepreneurs from overseas may make use of Macao’s advantages in “One Country Two System”, fusion of Chinese and Western cultures and numbers of returned overseas Chinese in the city, to take part in the construction of the “Belt and Road”. It is believed that all Chinese entrepreneurs will pool their wisdom and capabilities to strengthen exchanges and co-operation, reinforce complementary advantages and make contributions to achieve a mutually beneficial situation.
Organised by Association of Returned Overseas Chinese Macau, “the Cambodia Trade, Investment & Tourism Development Forum” was held today. During the forum, Deputy Minister of Commerce of Cambodia Ouk Prachea remarked that he believed that the forum can help the business sector further extend bilateral collaboration and relations between Cambodia and China in areas of investment co-operation and tourism and promote reciprocation in industrial tourism and investment. President of Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), Jackson Chang noted that the forum is an integral part of MIF. Macao and Cambodia have maintained a close relationship while officials and investors of the two places have made frequent contact, Chang continued, and he hoped in the future, exhibitions can help further enhance co-operation between Mainland, Macao and overseas markets, in particular countries along the “Belt and Road”. The event attracted over 140 representatives from political and business sectors all over the world.
Seminar on “How to Use E-Commerce Platforms to Assist Portuguese-Speaking Countries’ Products to Enter the Mainland Market” was held on the same day to provide enterprises with professional information, aid Macao and Portuguese-speaking Countries enterprises to use the platform of cross-border e-commerce to expand business. One of the speakers Mr. Lou shared methods of co-operation the companies used with regards to products of Portuguese-speaking Countries entering the Mainland market. In response to the concern of local enterprises about the high logistic costs of entering the Mainland market, another speaker Mr. Xue pointed out that there is at present not much room for the reduction of costs for cross-border freight between Macao and Mainland China. He suggested that enterprises consider ensuring their profit margins by selling high end products and controlling costs so as to cover the high cost of logistics. He also warned attendees to avoid cross-border trade of daily food, such as rice, noodles as this type of product has ceiling in amount.
Furthermore, jointly organised by Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute and Bank of China Macau Branch hosting “China and Portuguese Speaking Countries SMEs Investment and Trade Matchmaking Event” took place today, President of Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute Jackson Chang stated that in recent years IPIM has initiated various actions to promote the development of a “Business and Trade Co-operation Service Platform between China and Portuguese-Speaking-Countries”, including hosting a series of Portuguese-speaking Countries workshops, product presentations, business matching and providing trade and economic information about Portuguese-speaking Countries and other support services to advance co-operation between the SMEs of China and Portuguese-speaking Countries. He further said that in the future, IPIM will continue to organise MIF and PLPEX in the best way possible by introducing more innovative elements, to promote the establishment of Sino-Portuguese platform, in the meantime, to create more development opportunities for local SMEs and young people.
The 22nd MIF and 2017 PLPEX concluded a total of 160 business matching session on the second day, of which 32 sessions taking place during “China and Portuguese Speaking Countries SMEs Investment and Trade Matchmaking Event”, 68 involving Portuguese-speaking Countries from Angola, Mozambique and Portugal. About the signings, 17 agreements were signed in the Signing Centre, involving co-operation projects between business and trade associations in areas of hi-tech, food agency, trade and brand co-operation. Of the agreements in relation to Portuguese-speaking Countries, 4 agreements were signed by the business associations and enterprises of Brazil and Portugal respectively.
Tomorrow makes out the last day of the two events. Opening hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.. An extensive programme of activities will be staged inside and outside of the venue, including “China (Macao) Chinese Medicine International Forum 2017”, “2017 Young Entrepreneurs Contest-serial activities of catering business”, “Introduction Session to Economic and Commercial Co-operation between Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Macao SAR”, “Workshop on the knowledge of Portuguese-Speaking Countries Products”, “Brand Collection Show”. Apart from the 1,700 booths in the exhibition hall, presentations of traditional Chinese features, cultural performances and craftsmanship of art piece of Portuguese-speaking Countries will be showcased. Free shuttle bus service has been provided between the exhibition venue and several locations in the northern district, central and Taipa to encourage green commuting. Buses depart from designated locations from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and from the exhibition venue from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.. Free parking is available in Hall D of the Exhibition Centre on first-come-first-serve basis. All interested parties are welcome. For any enquiries, please call + 853-28828711 (22nd MIF) and 853-87989611/ 87989668 (2017 PLPEX) or visit official websites www.mif.com.mo and www.plpex.mo for further details.
