Participants from across the world listen to the keynote on the development trends of eco-cities and the“green”economy
The “Green Business Co-operation Day” successfully took place on the first day (12 April) of the 2018 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum & Exhibition (2018MIECF). A series of activities including the “Green Forum” and the Signing Ceremony attracted about 470 participants and facilitated the signing of 29 agreements.
The “Green Forum” of the first day comprised two panel discussions, namely “Green Economy – The Sustainable Tourism” and “New Pattern in MICE Industry under Eco-Cities Model”, looking into how the tourism and MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) sector, as well as other related industries such as hospitality, catering, and transportation, can apply “green technologies” and “green management” to help boost cost effectiveness and business opportunities.
Mr. António Trindade, Founding President of the Macao Association of Environmental Protection Industry, was the moderator of the session “Green Economy – The Sustainable Tourism”, whose panellists included: Mr. Des Pugson, Managing Director of Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts; Mr. Tim Huang, CEO – Greater China of SUEZ Water Technologies & Solutions; Mr. Victor C. Li, Vice President of the Hong Kong Environmental Industry Association and Business Development Director of Dunwell Enviro-Tech (Holdings) Ltd; Mr. Brian Jia, Senior Sales Manager Hong Kong and Macau business department BYD Asia Pacific Division; and Mr. He Hanbing, IT Division General Manager of Macao Newland Technology Co., Ltd.
During the discussion, participants examined the positive impact of tourism on destinations’ economic development, and the huge consumption of energy and carbon emissions. There was discussion upon the application of environmental technologies and equipment in much broader aspects of people’s life, such as adopting designs that integrate human’s architecture and nature when building a hotel, getting restaurants to use local fresh ingredients, adopting water recycling technologies, mainstreaming the use of electric vehicles, and making good use of “big data” in order to divert the flow of people to and from tourist attractions. All these means are helpful in protecting the environment while enriching visitors’ travel experiences with the natural environment and local culture, and enhancing the sustainable development of the tourism industry.
Mr. Tony Lam, President of the Macau Fair & Trade Association, was the moderator of the session “New Pattern in MICE Industry under Eco-Cities Model”, and the panellists included Mr. Zhang Zhe, Deputy Director of the Exhibition Industry Promotion Division, Circulation Industry Promotion Center, Ministry of Commerce; Dr. Shirlena Soh, Executive Director of the Singapore Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (SACEOS); Mr. Mark Cochrane, UFI Regional Manager, Asia Pacific; Mr. Rishi Tirupari, Director of Sustainability, Sands China Ltd.; and Prof. Michael K. H. Leung, Associate Dean and Professor of the School of Energy and Environment (Research and Graduate Studies) of the Hong Kong City University and Director of the Ability R&D Energy Research Centre (AERC).
The participants stated that there are varying accreditations and standards for “green exhibitions” adopted by different regions and organisations, and diversified approaches promoting “green exhibitions” are also available and even handy. Reusing stored or recycling building materials, shortening the distances between attendees’ accommodation and the exhibition venue, minimising the use of paper, reducing food waste and applying green design and eco-technologies in the construction of exhibition booths are some of the effective ways to achieve energy effectiveness and waste reduction at source.
The signing ceremony on the first day of 2018MIECF facilitated the signing of a total of 29 agreements, covering co-operation between governmental departments and business associations; the Green Convention and Exhibition Carbon Reduction Programme; eco-tourism projects; projects related to the establishment of an accreditation consultation centre, smart travel and co-operative living, co-operation in environmental packaging design and production, development of pollution remote monitoring drones, promotion of smart logistics management, environmental product development and distribution, and co-operation between entities aimed at promoting sustainable development, etc. The entities involved included companies and organisations from Mainland China, Austria, Malaysia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao and other regions and countries. A total of 124 business matching sessions were held in the Green Business Matching Area on the first day.
