News

The Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) is now calling for submission of information in order to publish two yearbooks on the performing arts, one about theatre and another about dance. Local art associations or artists are welcome to provide relevant information starting from today until 31 May, in order to facilitate the compilation of the yearbooks. With the growth of Macao’s artistic events and artistic exchanges with other countries and regions in the recent years, it is necessary to keep a detailed record of Macao’s artistic development and document the related artistic events and activities systematically. Last year, IC initiated the edition of two yearbooks, about Macao’s theatre and dance, respectively, which will soon come into print. Currently, IC keeps on collecting information for the Macao Theatre Yearbook 2015 and the Macao Dance Yearbook 2015. The Macao Theatre Culture Institute and the New Generation Culture Association have been asked to assist in compiling the publications. These yearbooks will document the activities of two major performing art sectors held in the respective year, featuring information of local and overseas performances and exchanges, competitions, seminars, courses and workshops, exhibitions, research, related publications (such as books, periodicals, scripts, dissertation and critiques), photos, videos and so forth. As the yearbooks involve a vast scope of materials, IC and the two commissioned associations are now gathering relevant information for the yearbooks in order to prevent the omission of any data and ensure the integrity of the data. All interested parties in providing the aforementioned information may contact Ms. Lao (theatre category) through tel. no. 2835 1572 or via email macautheatre@gmail.com, or Ms. Dai (dance category) through tel. no. 6613 1787 or via email macaudanceyrbk@gmail.com.
…

Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the unemployment rate for December 2015-February 2016 held stable at 1.9% as in the previous period (November 2015-January 2016); the underemployment rate was 0.5%, up by 0.1 percentage point. Total labour force was 397,800 and the labour force participation rate stood at 72.5%. Total employment increased slightly by 100 from November 2015-January 2016, at 390,400. Analysed by industry, employment in Construction registered decrease, while that in Gaming & Junket Activities saw increase. Number of the unemployed was 7,400, down by 300 from November 2015-January 2016; fresh labour force entrants searching for their first job accounted for 6.9% of the total unemployed, down by 3.0 percentage points. In comparison with December 2014-February 2015, the labour force participation rate decreased by 1.6 percentage points, while the unemployment rate and the underemployment rate increased by 0.2 and 0.1 percentage points respectively.
…

As the old saying goes, bread is the stall of life. Whether establishing new business or expanding market share, food is a good starting idea to provide many business opportunities for entrepreneurs and companies. Macao is economic and trade cooperation service platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, and the three centers have food element - including the Portuguese-speaking Countries Food Product Exhibition Centre to be inaugurated in Macao Tap Seac Square business center R1 units (commonly known as the "Glass House") on 31st March. Concentrated display a variety of products from Portuguese-speaking countries The upcoming Portuguese-speaking Countries Food Product Exhibition Centre attracts many businessmen and trade agencies to participate as exhibitors showing food represented or supplied, originated from Portuguese-speaking countries so as to find more trading opportunities. F. Rodrigues (Successors) Company Limited displays a variety of food in the center, including sardines, cod fish, tuna fish, olive oil and various kinds of wine. The company CEO Mr. Humberto Carlos Leitão Rodrigues hopes to promote their food, enhance awareness of cuisine of Portuguese-speaking countries and increase trading activities with Mainland China. Baby food is welcomed by post- 80s and 90s mothers In addition to wine, olive oil and canned food from Portuguese-speaking countries, i.e. the common products, baby food can also be found in the Portuguese-speaking Countries Food Product Exhibition Centre. Kid’s Shopping Centre executive director Ms Latonya W.M. Leong, said that baby food in all Portuguese-speaking countries must be tested and meet EU standards, so it is safe and convenient, and price is not so expensive, thus being very welcomed in Macao market. Chairman of the Executive Committee of International Lusophone Markets Business Association, Mr. Eduardo Ambrósio said that, Portuguese-speaking Countries Food Product Exhibition Centre aims to provide enterprises a platform to promote the food, and he hopes thisthose will help the food to enter the mainland market. IPIM mainland liaison office successfully helped companies to import food from Portuguese-speaking Countries Although food from Portuguese-speaking countries currently does not take much market share, there are still many business opportunities. Last year, a company in Shenyang spotted the increasing market; they recognized Portuguese products had been known for high quality and low price, so they renamed the company as New Portuguese Trend and manage to bring the Portuguese wine and food to the local market. Make efforts to build a good platform online and offline Portuguese-speaking Countries Food Product Exhibition Centre in Macao is a offline shop to promote economic and trade co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, and online is set up a website called Economic & Trade Co-operation and Human Resources Portal Between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries. Through the Portuguese-speaking Countries Food Products Database, it is possible to be regularly published investment projects, trading and exhibition information of Portuguese-speaking countries. So it can helps to build the “three centers” namely, the China and Portuguese-speaking Countries SME Business Service Center, Portuguese Speaking Countries Food Distribution Center, Exhibition Center for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-Speaking Countries, enabling companies and entrepreneurs to explore business and expand market.
…

Consumer Council is concerned about the affect on consumers caused by the delay of Mega Maldives Airlines' chartered flight. The Council has been in close contact with the relevant departments to assist consumers. The Council has received one case from its holiday hotline regarding the incident. The Council has been in close contact with Macao Government Tourism Office (DST) and Civil Aviation Authority (AACM) since the chartered flight of Mega Maldives Airlines to Palau delayed on 24 March. The Council continues its hotline service during Easter holidays and as at 27 March afternoon, one inquiry case has been received so far. The Council will continue to assist consumers, including the transfer of cases to relevant consumers organizations for consumers from the Mainland. Consumer Council's hotline is available from 25 to 28 March, 9AM to 6PM each day, and the Council will resume office work on 29 March. For enquiry, please call 8988 9315.
…

The 2016 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum and Exhibition (MIECF) takes place at the Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel from 31 March to 2 April under the theme “Green Economy – Opportunities for Waste Management”. The 2016 MIECF will see the debut of a themed area with three exhibition zones, covering the topics of waste management, green construction and green transportation. The area and its zones will enable exhibition visitors to learn first hand about the latest environmentally-friendly technologies, thus creating more business opportunities for companies in the industry. As part of MIECF’s ongoing commitment – as a green event – to protecting the environment, the 2016 edition will follow the practice adopted in previous years: no carpet or other floor covering will be used in the main passages, so as to promote the concept of environmental protection and create a green image of the exhibition. The 2016 MIECF officially opens next Thursday (31 March). The exhibition portion of the entire event – known as the Green Showcase – brings together over 460 exhibitors from more than 20 different countries and regions. The exhibition as a whole covers an area of approximately 16,900 square metres. The participants include the “9+1” Pan-Pearl River Delta provinces and regions, European Countries, Portuguese-speaking Countries and the United States of America. They return this year with their respective exhibition displays. The Green Showcase has also attracted 21 VIP exhibitors from renowned environmental enterprises in Mainland China, Germany, Sweden, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. Debut of environmental exhibition zones To align with the overall theme of the 2016 MIECF, this year’s Green Showcase will add for the first time – as mentioned above – a themed exhibition area with three special environmental zones, covering the topics of waste management, green construction and green transportation. The themed area will join, in the Green Showcase, the displays of Pan-Pearl River Delta and Portuguese-speaking Countries, the European Union Pavilion, the United States Pavilion, the Macao Pavilion and an exhibition display for Macao companies. The exhibition zone for waste management focuses on the “5Rs” regarding greener quality management systems (i.e., Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair and Recycle). The technologies on display will include: separation/recycling technologies; waste management solutions; waste-to-energy technologies; sludge processing and treatment systems; and water conservation systems. The exhibition zone for green construction mainly features building technologies; facility management systems; advanced electronic heating and cooling systems; building construction services; and related solutions. The zone for green transportation mainly includes buses and motorcycles powered by electricity, hybrid energy sources or fuel cells. It also covers electricity charging stations and related infrastructure, as well as battery and logistics solutions. Collective effort to create a green event The Macao SAR Government is working diligently to promote the concept of reducing waste at source. Its “Guidelines on Waste Reduction and Separation for Convention and Exhibition Activities” were introduced at the end of last year, encouraging the local convention and exhibition industry to go green. The 2016 MIECF will continue the practice adopted in previous years, in not covering the exhibition floor with any kind of material. Exhibitors are also encouraged to apply the concepts of reducing waste, reusing and recycling when setting up their booths. The exhibitors are also invited to participate in the “Green Booth Award” and the “Electricity Fee Rebate” programmes. The aim of the programmes is to reduce the environmental impact of waste disposal related to the event. Another notable feature in this year’s MIECF is the construction concept for the Macao Pavilion. It employs reusable and recycled materials, including for the design and lighting features of the pavilion’s façade. In addition, discarded plastic bottles were cleaned and collected as materials that form the structure of the Green Showcase’s VIP Lounge. After MIECF, the structure will be taken apart and the bottles will be distributed to charity organisations for use in educational activities or for reuse in other ways. For more information on the 2016 MIECF, please visit the official website: http://www.macaomiecf.com/miecf2016
…

To further enhance Macao’s role of a Commercial and Trade Co-operation Service Platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, the Portuguese-speaking Countries Food Exhibition Center will be officially open on 31st, March 2016 in Macao. Approximately 700 kinds of products from 7 different Portuguese- speaking Countries (PSCs) will be on display in the center, with eyes and taste, visitors may experience a special food tour to PSCs and explore business opportunities. Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) is committed to implement entirely the SAR government’s policies and to actively promote the diversified development of the economy. To expand Macao’s unique advantages combining with the popularity of the cross-border e-commerce industry these years, the Portal (website: www.platformchinaplp.mo) – Economic & Trade Co-operation and Human Resources Portal Between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries was officially opened on April 1st, 2015, with the operation of IPIM under the guidance of the Ministry of Commerce and the Secretariat for Economy and Finance of the Macao SARd. The Portal offers information and services in different modules, such as Portuguese-speaking Countries Food Products Database, Bilingual Professional Service and Personnel Database, Convention and Exhibition Information, Trade and Economic Updates, Co-operation Organizations as well as Information on Legislations. 700 kinds of products from PSCs help enterprises explore business opportunities To strengthen better interaction both online and offline, the unveiling ceremony of the Portuguese-speaking Countries Food Exhibition Center located in the Tap Seac Square business center will be officially held on 31st of March, after IPIM’s full preparation. With a total area of around 4,200 square feetbeing divided into two floors, there will be for the first period 700 kinds of products on display from 7 Portuguese-speaking countries, namely Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal and East Timor. Products vary from natural foods, snack foods, canned foods, coffee, alcoholic beverages and so on and so forth. We believe that visitors can learn about more about the products if they themsives come to experience personally in the centre and it will surely help enterprises explore business opportunities. IPIM aims to optimise its mainland liaisons’ services In fact, except Macao, another Portuguese-speaking Countries Food Exhibition Center has been set up at IPIM’s Fuzhou Liaison on January 2016, which is considered to be the first in the Mainland. And IPIM will continue to find out the feasibilities to set up more in other mainland liaisons, such as Shenyang, Hangzhou, Chengdu, Guangzhou and Wuhan.
…

IFT Tourism Retail and Marketing Management Year 3 students assisted, Sio Ng, a travel writer, to develop campaigns via her Facebook fan page to boost the promotion of the launch of her travel book later this year. As part of the project of their programme at IFT, students assessed the current state of the Facebook page to identify its strengths and weaknesses and later proposed ideas for improvement. Moreover, students researched several top quality Facebook pages of same nature for reference, aiming to learn from the best and to identify best practice. Through this project, students put theory into practice and gained practical experience. At the concluding part of this project, students synthesised their learning to develop and proposed to Sio Ng on how to improve her Facebook Page campaign, aiming to boost the interaction rate of Sio Ng’s Facebook page and to engage fans number and build awareness of the new travel book. Sio Ng and the course leader, Fernando Lourenço, appreciate greatly of what students have done and hope their ideas can bring positive impact to the business. Established in 1995, the Institute for Tourism Studies, Macao (IFT) offers the most extensive selection of tourism and hospitality related bachelor degree programmes in Macao, and about twenty thousand participants attend its vocational and professional training courses annually. IFT collaborates with 97 universities and tourism organisations around the world, and builds strong links with 500 leading tourism and hospitality corporations to offer internship opportunities to its students. Being the first institution accredited by the UNWTO.TedQual Certification System for tourism education, IFT has the most bachelor degree programmes certified under the System of any tertiary education establishment worldwide. IFT has received the Medal of Merit in Tourism from the Macao SAR Government, and won twice the Gold Award in ‘Education and Training’ from the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA).
…

Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that attributable to the Lunar New Year holiday, visitor arrivals rebounded by 8.1% month-to-month to 2,644,289 in February 2016, but still represented a year-on-year decrease of 1.2%. Same-day visitors dropped by 7.6% year-on-year to 1,454,944, whereas overnight visitors rose by 7.9% to 1,189,345. The average length of stay of visitors increased by 0.2 day year-on-year to 1.1 days; the average stay of same-day visitors (0.2 day) held stable while that of overnight visitors (2.1 days) rose by 0.3 day. Visitors from Mainland China totalled 1,799,522 in February 2016, down by 5.2% year-on-year; those travelling under the Individual Visit Scheme dropped by 11.5% to 1,009,546. Mainland visitors came mainly from Guangdong Province (897,096), Zhejiang Province (57,817) and Shanghai (53,261). Visitors from the Republic of Korea (63,013), Hong Kong (548,080) and Taiwan (86,477) increased by 12.0%, 4.8% and 16.6% respectively. Long-haul visitors from the United States (12,763), Canada (5,932) and Australia (5,727) registered increase. Analyzed by mode of transport, visitor arrivals by land increased by 1.3% year-on-year to 1,605,907; those arriving via the Border Gate edged up by 0.4% to 1,357,065 and those via the Checkpoint of Cotai rose by 7.0% to 247,512. Visitor arrivals by sea dropped by 11.2% year-on-year to 813,214, and those arriving via the Outer Harbour (532,678) and the Provisional Ferry Terminal in Taipa (280,536) recorded decrease. Visitor arrivals by air surged by 28.7% year-on-year to 225,168, with those entering via the airport rising by 28.9% to 224,417. In the first two months of 2016, visitor arrivals totalled 5,090,165, down by 1.0% year-on-year; same-day visitors dropped by 6.7% to 2,754,918 while overnight visitors rose by 6.6% to 2,335,247. Visitors from Mainland China (3,458,156) decreased by 3.1% year-on-year, whereas those from the Republic of Korea (132,246) and Taiwan (172,416) increased by 5.8% and 14.1% respectively. Hong Kong visitors (996,273) remained similar to the same period of 2015. Moreover, long-haul visitors from the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom increased year-on-year, while those from Australia decreased.
…

Consumer Council conducted its specific price survey on diapers, over-the-counter drugs, and milk powder on 22 March for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June. Result of the mentioned survey has been uploaded to the Council’s website (www.consumer.gov.mo) and is available in the Council’s ‘Supermarket Price Information Platform’ iPhone and Android apps, and on the Council’s WeChat account page. For inquiry, please call the Council’s hotline: 8988 9315.
…

The 2016 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum and Exhibition (MIECF) will take place at the Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel from 31 March to 2 April under the theme “Green Economy – Opportunities for Waste Management”. The 2016 MIECF continues to play its role as a platform for co-operation and exchange between the Pan-Pearl River Delta Region and international markets; with particular reference to the environmental industry in China, the European Union and Portuguese-speaking countries, creating huge business opportunities for regional green economic development. 2016 MIECF is hosted by the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region, with the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Environmental Protection of the People’s Republic of China as Special Supporting Organisations, the provincial and regional governments in the Pan-Pearl River Delta region as Co-organisers and the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) and the Environmental Protection Bureau as the Host Co-ordinators. This year marks the ninth MIECF and it has become a high level and extremely effective platform for international exchanges on green issues and has received wide recognition from environmental industries around the world. China’s national “13th Five Year Plan” outlines support for the development of Macao into a World Tourism and Leisure Centre, a Business and Trade Co-operation Service Platform between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, and develop the convention and exhibition industry as well as the business sector to promote the development of a moderate economic diversification. The Macao SAR Government has also always strived to build Macao into a World Tourism and Leisure Centre and a Business and Trade Co-operation Service Platform between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries by developing various supporting measures focusing on improving Macao’s environment and promoting the development of the environmental industry. MIECF plays an active role and has made vital contribution into promoting information and technology exchanges between environmental industries. Continue to Strengthen Co-operation and Exchanges between Environmental Industries in the Pan-Pearl River Delta Region To be in line with the “Guidance on Deepening Regional Co-operation in the Pan-Pearl River Delta Region” recently promulgated by the State Council, and to strengthen regional co-operation in the PPRD region as the core of deepened collaboration between the Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao, this year’s MIECF is again supported by the provincial and municipal governments and related entities in the PPRD region. Apart from the participation of delegations in the exhibitions and forums, the Pan-Pearl River Delta Region Environmental Protection Technology Exchange Seminar is organised to encourage and promote technological exchange and co-operation between the Pan-Pearl River Delta and other countries and regions, particularly the exchange of advanced and applicable technology from countries and regions such as the EU, to strengthen co-operation between industries, to encourage and assist Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao enterprises to “go global” and “attract investment”. The Pan Pearl River Delta Region Session - Solid Waste Management Policies and Technology in the Pan-Pearl River Delta Region will be held on the second day of MIECF. The event will be participated by leaders of PPRD environmental protection associations who will introduce the latest policy in solid waste management in their respective province or region, and exchange advanced technology and products in the field, with the objective of further promoting co-operation and development of environmental industry in the PPRD region. The event this year has attracted the participation of more than 90 exhibitors from the PPRD region covering an exhibition area of 960 square metres. Green Forum – a gathering of professionals The Green Forum is one of the highlights of MIECF. This year, the pioneer of the circular economy and founder of cradle-to-cradle and performance economy concepts, Professor Dr. h.c. Walter R. Stahel has been invited to the event as the keynote speaker. Professor Stahel will deliver the Keynote Speech and explain the latest trends in circular economy developments. Furthermore, on 31 March and 1 April, six forums will be organised and in the afternoon of 1 April, there will be an interactive session to promote new concepts in the field of waste management. At this year’s MIECF, 45 environmental pioneers, leading multi-national environmental industrialists and regional policy-makers from Australia, Denmark, Hong Kong Mainland China, Macao, the Netherlands, Portugal, Singapore, Switzerland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, will present their ideas on the significant issues for waste management and related industries; including business strategies in relation to the manufacturing and waste management industries and environmental measures within the hotel and hospitality industries. Green Showcase – opening up business opportunities This year’s Green Showcase brings together more than 400 exhibitors from more than 19 different countries and regions, and covers an area of approximately 16,900 square metres. The “9+1” Pan-Pearl River Delta provinces and regions will continue to participate and create their own exhibition zones. Moreover, the main pavilion and various countries/regions pavilions shall also include an exhibition area of prime exhibitors, a Macao exhibition area and an EU Pavilion, as well as a European pavilion. This year there will also be a themed exhibition area for waste management and green construction. Exhibitors from Portuguese-speaking countries will again participate in the event this year. The Showcase also includes 20 well-known local and overseas VIP exhibitors, including a number of first-time exhibitors, such as China Civil Engineering Construction Company (Macau) Ltd., Associated Engineers Ltd. (Hong Kong), Bona/Bonkit Wooden Floor Care Ltd., China Water Industry Group Ltd., Emco Electroroller GmbH, EMCO NOVUS International Limited, Legend Global Investment Limited, SG Automotive Group, Dandong Huanghai Bus LLC., Megaman (Hong Kong) Lighting and Electrical Equipment Co., Ltd., China Commercial Vehicle Trading Co., Ltd. and DJI Inc Corp. Diverse content and a co-operation platform for industries Green Business Co-operation Day This year’s Green Business Co-operation Day will take place in the afternoon of the first day of MIECF (31 March) and will include two green forum sessions, a Green Business Networking Cocktail Reception and Signing Ceremony. As in the past, this year’s Green Business Co-operation Day will again invite experts and leaders of listed companies from China and international markets, including world renowned enterprises, academies and international organisations such as the European Recycling Platform (ERP), International Travel Co-operation Partners, the Federation of Hong Kong Industries, Delft University of Technology, EDIA, the China Water Industry Group, H&M, Melco Crown, MGM and Sands China. The participants will discuss matters concerning waste management strategies and environmental measures in the hotel and hospitality industries and talk about opportunities created for related sectors in the chain of the industry, particularly the SMEs. The Green Business Networking Cocktail Reception and Signing Ceremony will take place in Exhibition Hall A, allowing participants and experts from all around the world to engage in commercial exchanges. The event will be attended by government officials and representatives from senior management of businesses from various regions and witness the signing of environmental co-operation projects. Hosted Buyer Programme Since 2011, MIECF has seen significant results with its hosted buyer programme and this year there are increasing promotion and advertising for this programme. Experts from the Pan-Pearl River Delta region, Malaysia and Singapore have been invited to participate in the Green Matching during MIECF. Green Matching Green Matching is a featured service provided by MIECF designed to help companies promote their products and services and seek opportunities for business co-operation. Many well-known hotel groups including various green hotels in Macao have been invited to attend the event to procure green products and services. Several local government departments and public institutions are invited to participate in business negotiations. Green Gala Dinner and Networking Event During the exhibition, MIECF will host the Green Gala Dinner and other related networking events to provide opportunities for managers from the Pan-Pearl River Delta and international markets to participate in networking and exchanges and allow them to explore the latest directions and technologies in environmental production. Continued hosting of Green Building Industry Seminar and the Environmental Industry Matching and Exchange Seminar Targeting the latest developments in Macao and its neighbouring regions, and strengthen MIECF as an exchange platform for environmental themes within the construction industry, the convention will once more organise a Green Building Industry Networking Session that will allow those in and related to the construction industry to discuss and exchange ideas on advanced technology and other related information in order to promote further opportunities for co-operation. At the same time, the Environmental Industry Matching and Exchange Seminar will be hosted again this year, providing a platform for industrial and commercial industries to promote mutual exchange and cooperation. Public participation – sharing the fun of MIECF The “Green Public Day” will be held on the last day of MIECF (2 April). MIECF is open to the public, allowing the public to participate in this important and international event for the green industry. It is an opportunity to promote environmental protection and a low carbon lifestyle. There will also be parent-child activities organised, helping to create and instil environmental awareness from a young age. Shuttle bus service to encourage green transportation In order to encourage green transportation, MIECF will put on four free shuttle bus routes from the central and northern districts and Taipa to the MIECF venue on the Green Public Day. Please visit www.macaomiecf.com for details. Parking will also be provided on site near Exhibition Hall D; however spaces are limited and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Therefore, the organisers would like to encourage visitors to arrange car-sharing with friends and family, and to mutually promote environmental awareness.
…