2018MFE opens
The Macao Franchise Expo 2018 (2018MFE) opened today (27 July). With the theme “Brand Expansion Continues, Business Opportunities to Be Seized”, the 2018MFE attracted over 100 enterprises to participate, covering sectors such as catering, retail, brand agency services, consultancy and more. Marking its 10th anniversary, the 2018MFE features elements related to the “Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area”, smart retail and youth entrepreneurship. Through forums, exhibitions, business-matching sessions and the Gourmet Avenue, the three-day event will build a platform for match-making and exchange between exhibitors and trade visitors, seizing the opportunities for development and leveraging MFE’s role as a key trading platform. On the first day of the MFE, 10 agreements were signed at the Protocol Signing Ceremony, and a total of 65 business matching sessions were successfully held at the Business Matching Area by means of the Online Business Matching Service Platform.
The Opening Ceremony was held at the Multi-Function Area of Hall A of the Venetian Macao at 11am this morning. Mr Jackson Chang, President of the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), pointed out in his speech that, to celebrate its 10th anniversary, the 2018MFE covers a total area of over 6,000 square metres, attracting more than 150 exhibitors from Mainland China, the Czech Republic, Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Portugal, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. More than 200 booths at the venue covered a wide array of sectors including catering, services, retail, brand agency services, education, electronic commerce and fashion.
On the first day of the 2018MFE, a total of 65 business appointments sessions were successfully arranged at the Business Matching Area via the Online Business Matching Service Platform, facilitating the signing of 10 collaboration agreements, involving intergovernmental commercial co-operation, support to the entry of Macao’s retail industry into the strategic co-operation in the Greater Bay Area, hotel franchising, food product agencies, Macao brands’ participation in old district revitalisation projects, 3D printing device agency, and kids’ photography. The signing parties come from Mainland China, Macao and Hong Kong.
In order to maximise the effectiveness of exhibitions, the MFE and the “Guangdong & Macao Branded Products Fair” continue to be held concurrently this year to extend the reach of franchise projects of different brands to each of the cities in the Greater Bay Area. In particular, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area Business Zone is set up at this year’s MFE to provide commercial consultation services, where a number of participants took the opportunities to get the information for expanding their business.
Riding the trend of innovative chain retail, the “Smart Retail Zone” is unveiled at the 2018MFE, showcasing unmanned juice bars and automated coffee machines and more. Meanwhile, supporting services for innovative chain developments are introduced, providing various supports such as IT support, e-commerce and logistics, business consultation, e-wallet and mobile payment. Many participants are drawn to the Zone by the allure of experiencing something fresh and new.
According to an exhibitor from Mainland China invited by their Macao partner to attend the exhibition, their main exhibit is its ordering system developed for the catering industry, which allows customers to make on-site or online orders, to pay by cash or by mobile payment. The most powerful feature of the system is the background system which enables users to monitor the deliveries and the stock of each branch, thus assisting the delivery centre to replenish goods for each branch, and allowing the review of the quantity of goods in stock and speedily replenish all kinds of products. This system is highly suitable for chain stores and franchises.
Another exhibitor is a company from Hong Kong, which promoted at the 2018MFE its coloured QR code system. This system is characterised by its anti-counterfeit functions and its applicability to specified goods. Scanning the QR code, one can gain access to detailed information about products to leverage its anti-fake functions. This system is highly applicable to pharmaceuticals and high-end products, and has led the company to the co-operation with large financial institutions.
The “Forum on Chain and Franchise Business Opportunities of International Brands” was held on the afternoon of the first day. Representatives of franchise businesses, international brand associations and enterprises from Mainland China, Portugal, Japan and Singapore shared their insights, helping the participating enterprises to explore new marketing opportunities. Moreover, the “Youth Entrepreneurship Exhibition Area”, “Branding Consultation Pavilion” and Gourmet Avenue are also set up in the venue this year. The third day of MFE is designated as the “Start-up Launchpad” Day, where successful entrepreneurs are invited to share their entrepreneurship experience, so as to allow those wishing either to start or develop their own business to learn from their experience.
The 2018MFE will be opened to the public tomorrow (28 July) and the following day (29 July), in addition to being held concurrently with the “Guangdong & Macao Branded Products Fair 2018”. In order to encourage the use of public transport and green commuting, four free shuttle bus routes travelling between the exhibition venue, the Macao peninsula and Taipa are provided, with stops set at Rua do Dr. Pedro José Lobo (Macao Square), Avenida do Conselheiro Ferreira de Almeida (near to the Pak Wai bus stop At Rua Gago Coutinho), Rua do Mercade de Iao Hon (opposite Iao Hon Park and near to ISquare) and Avenida de Guimarães (Central Park, opposite Nova Park). Parking spaces at Hall D and E of the Exhibition and Convention Centre are available on a first-come-first-served basis due to limited availability. Free Wi-Fi is provided at the venue. For more details regarding the 2018MFE, please visit the MFE’s official website www.mfe.mo or follow us on WeChat: MFEMacau.
The officiating guests of the Opening Ceremony of the 2018MFE include: Mr Leong Vai Tac, Secretary for Economy and Finance of the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region; Ms Chen Xing, Deputy Director-General of the Economic Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in Macao SAR and the responsible person of the Trade Office; Mr Xu Jun, Assistance Director-General of the Economic Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in Macao SAR; Mr Kou Hoi In, President of Directors Board of the Macao Chamber of Commerce; Ms Terry Sio, President of the Macao International Brand Enterprise Commercial Association; Mr Jaman Wong, President of Macau Chain Stores and Franchise Association; Ms Mindy Lin, Marketing Section Chief of Association of Chain and Franchise Promotion, Taiwan; Mr Wilson Lee, Chairman of Licensing & Franchising Association of Hong Kong; Ms Susan Su, Director of the Franchise Committee Office of the Franchise & Entrepreneur Department of the China Chain Store & Franchise Association; and Mr Pedro Ruiz, Vice President of the Portuguese Franchise Association.
