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For four consecutive Saturdays in November, the Consumer Council will be hosting 4 community carnivals to promote the Regulations and services of the Consumer Arbitration Centre. The first one will be held on 9th November from 3PM to 5PM at Espaço Lateral do Jardim Cidade das Flores in Taipa. This year marks the 15th anniversary of the establishment of 'Consumer Arbitration Centre', and a series of activities, such as seminar, carnivals, exhibitions and online quiz games were held earlier this year. Through holding various events and collecting opinions from the public, the Council can better its service of the Centre and introduce to the local citizens the advantages of using the Centre's service: legal, fair, professional, efficient and free of charge. The carnivals gained popularity among the citizens, especially the Q and A session which enhanced the public's awareness of the Arbitration Centre. The Council states that adopting the mechanism of Mediation-Arbitration for dispute resolution is a recent trend and the Council encourages both parties involving in a consumer dispute to have it settled through this mechanism, thus saving time and social costs. The number of consumer disputes settled through the Arbitration Centre has been increased in recent years and around 500 cases have been handled by the Centre since its establishment. The Council will continue to enhance its service to meet public needs. The first outdoor event will be held on 9th November from 3PM to 5PM at Espaço Lateral do Jardim Cidade das Flores in Taipa, booth games, on-site quiz games and consultation service will be available for the public. Information on the services and regulations of the Consumer Arbitration Centre will also be exhibited. Residents are welcome to participate. The other 3 community carnivals will be held at Parque Dr. Carlos d'Assumpção, Zona de Lazer da Rotunda de Carlos da Maia and Jardim do Mercado de Iao Hon on 16th, 23rd and 30th November respectively. For inquiry, please call 8988-9315.
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Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) took part in "Ningxia, Hong Kong and Macau Travel Mart and Tourism Promotion Event" in Ningxia along with travel trade delegates from Macau. The tourism offices and trade of the three destinations signed and announced a declaration together during the event. Travel industry partners from Macau and Ningxia also signed a cooperative agreement not only to enhance mutual cooperation and communication in tourism but also to facilitate their market development and tourism business mutually. "Ningxia, Hong Kong and Macau Travel Mart and Tourism Promotion Event" was held in Yinchuan today (7 November). Vice Chairman of China National Tourism Administration (CNTA), Wu Wenxue; Vice Chairman of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Wang Heshan; MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes; Commissioner for Tourism, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Philip Yung, participated in the event among other guests. The tourism authorities and trade partners of Ningxia, Hong Kong and Macau signed and announced a declaration together. Hong Kong and Macau trade also signed a cooperative agreement separately with their counterparts from Ningxia. The tourism official delegates of the three regions each presented their destination's tourism development, products and events during the function. Director Senna Fernandes remarked that almost 14 years have passed since the establishment of the Macau Special Administrative Region. Driven by the Central Government's strong support and CNTA's guidance, the Macau SAR Government is actively building Macau into a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure while steering the city's tourism development toward diversification. The destination also keeps expanding and consolidating those tourism markets with great potential. Furthermore, Macau embraces an open and friendly attitude throughout her collaboration with various Mainland cities, provinces and autonomous regions. Senna Fernandes believed that Ningxia and Macau will enjoy much room for future tourism development by maintaining close ties and communication with each other in both official and private sectors. "Ningxia, Hong Kong and Macau Travel Mart and Tourism Promotion Event" is jointly organized by Department of Affairs on Tourism of Hong Kong, Macau & Taiwan of CNTA, Tourism Bureau of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Macau Government Tourist Office and Tourism Commission of the Government of the Hong Kong SAR. During their stay for the event, Hong Kong and Macau delegates also conducted a familiarization visit in Ningxia to know more about the current situation and trends of local tourism industry, which is expected to facilitate their collaboration and promotion in the future.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that a total of 1,147 new companies were incorporated in the third quarter of 2013, up by 155 year-on-year; total value of registered capital decreased by 20.4% to MOP129 million. Analysed by industry, the majority of new incorporations were operating in Wholesale & Retail (423) and Business Services (293), and the total value of capital amounted to MOP44 million and MOP27 million respectively. In the third quarter of 2013, companies in dissolution totalled 121, and the value of registered capital of companies in dissolution amounted to MOP22 million. Analysed by size of registered capital, there were 794 new incorporations (69.2% of total) registered with capital under MOP50,000 and the total value of capital amounted to MOP21 million; there were 26 new companies registered with capital of MOP1,000,000 or over, and the total value of capital reached MOP66 million (51.3% of total), indicating the predominance of new incorporations with small capital. In the third quarter of 2013, capital of the new companies came mainly from Macao (MOP89 million) and Mainland China (MOP28 million), including MOP13 million from the 9 Provinces of the Pan-Pearl River Delta Region, with that from Guangdong province sharing MOP11 million. Analysed by combination of the shareholders, there were 734 new companies established solely by Macao shareholders, and 130 joint ventures between shareholders from Macao and other countries or regions. In the first three quarters of 2013, a total of 3,281 new companies were incorporated, and total value of registered capital amounted to MOP457 million, up by 16.3% and 1.4% respectively year-on-year. Number of companies in dissolution totalled 394, and the value of registered capital of companies in dissolution amounted to MOP228 million. At the end of the third quarter of 2013, number of registered companies totalled 42,674, an increase of 3,558 from a year earlier.
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The Conference of Entrepreneurs between China and the Portuguese-speaking Countries cum Project Matching Meeting for China and Portuguese-speaking Countries Cooperation and Development Fund to bolster participating countries' trade and business co-operation, was held in Macao today. The Conference, which was themed "Grasp Opportunities and Deepen Cooperation in Pursuit of Common Development and Win-win Outcomes", was attended by some 600 high ranking officials, entrepreneurs from China and the Portuguese-speaking countries. The Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Tam Pak Yuen, said in his speech that significant achievements have been made in two-way investments, co-operation between entrepreneurs, and training to widen the human resources pool, adding that all these have shown that co-operation between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries have been enhanced over the past decade. He highlighted the importance of the special fund for co-operation and development between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, which was formally established in June this year, and said the participants would discuss ways to further promote exchange and co-operation between entrepreneurs from China and the Portuguese-speaking countries in this Conference. In her speech, China's Vice Minister of Commerce, Ms Gao Yan, made four suggestions to promote mutual benefit. They are: - Expand bilateral trade and investment; - Create an enabling environment for trade and economic cooperation; - Beef up collaborative projects between China and Portuguese-speaking countries; and - Leverage the role of Macao as a platform. During the Conference, two agreements on trade co-operation were signed and 95 business projects on infrastructure, agriculture, manufacturing, energy and natural resources, were successfully matched.
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Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT) announces the renewal of the "TedQual Certification" granted to its bachelor degree programmes by the United Nations World Tourism Organization until August 2016. In 2000, IFT was the first United Nations World Tourism Organization UNWTO.TedQual institution. This certification confirmed the international standard and quality achieved by IFT in tourism education. Several strategic performance areas were assessed in the latest audit, including "The Employers: Public and Private Sectors", "The Student", "The Curriculum and Pedagogical System", "The Faculty", and "The Management". The auditor met with the Institute's management, faculty, students, alumni, directors of government departments as well as industry representatives. The auditor also visited internal departments to collect comments and suggestions for the Institute's future development. Since IFT was granted this certification in 2000, UNWTO has sent UNWTO-THEMIS Executive Director and experts to IFT for periodical observation. IFT appreciates the valuable opinions and makes improvements in various aspects. Within 18 years of the Institute's establishment, IFT has developed gradually and increased its programmes to cope with the needs of community development. Currently, IFT offers 6 daytime degree programmes with English as the medium of instruction, and 2 evening degree programmes in Chinese. The successful renewal covers 4 English degree programmes, namely Tourism Business Management, Heritage Management, Hotel Management, as well as Tourism Event Management. The Institute plans to apply for the evaluation of the remaining programmes as soon as they graduate their first batches of students. The certification confirms the quality of IFT's programmes and raises the morale of students and staff. IFT believes that this honour is to be shared with supportive industry partners, alumni, devoted staff and academic members, as well as diligent students. Tourism is Macao's leading industry. The opening of new hotels and entertainment facilities will enhance Macao's tourism profile. IFT strives to work together with the industry to build a better future for the city.
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Consumer Council conducted its first 'Supermarket price survey' for November on 5th November for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12th June. Surveyed locations included supermarkets near Areia Preta and Avenida de Venceslau de Morais in N. Sra. de Fátima Parish. The latest 'Supermarket Price Survey' is now available on Consumer Council's website (www.consumer.gov.mo), and the 'Supermarket Price Information Platform' iPhone and Android apps. The survey is also available free of charge at the offices of Consumer Council, IACM's Iao Hon and S. Domingos Markets, bookstores and libraries. Consumers may also access the resources through WAP channels on their mobile phones. With reference to the local six parishes and the number of supermarkets in each parish, the Council has divided around 100 supermarkets into 8 areas for price collection. The Council collects prices from these supermarkets for the provision of a more comprehensive database for consumers to check price discrepancies and make price comparisons according to their desired locations. For inquiry, please call 8988 9315.
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The Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, which is organised by the Ministry of Commerce of the Central People's Government and hosted by the Macao Special Administrative Region Government, is an official, non-political platform for promoting international economic co-operation and development. It aims to strengthen trade and economic exchanges between China and Portuguese-speaking countries while making use of Macao's role as a bridge between the two sides, thereby facilitating the common development of China, Portuguese-speaking countries and Macao. Forum members consist of China and Lusophone countries, namely Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal and Timor-Leste. As China continues to push ahead with economic reforms, full participation in global economic co-operation has become China's economic development approach. Portuguese-speaking countries, which spread over five continents with their respective geographical advantages and boast rich natural resources and a combined consumer market of 200 million people, offer great potential for complementary co-operation for the Chinese economy. Founded in 2003, the Forum has held three ministerial conferences and the fourth one is being held in Macao during 5-6 November 2013. Over the last decade, the hosting of the Forum and the measures rolled out during the meetings have strengthened economic and trade co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, with Macao serving as a bridge between the two sides. As a result, the common development of the Mainland China, the Macao SAR and Portuguese-speaking countries are greatly bolstered. The First Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries was held in Macao over 12-14 October 2003. Ms Wu Yi, then Vice Premier of the State Council, came to Macao to officiate at the opening of the Forum, which was attended by trade ministers of China and seven Portuguese-speaking countries. The Action Plan for Trade and Economic Cooperation was signed at the end of this Forum, establishing a formal framework for cooperation between the participating countries in the fields of intergovernmental exchanges, investment and commercial co-operation, trade, agriculture and fishery, infrastructure, as well as natural and human resources development. The first Forum also decided to set up a follow-up mechanism and establish a permanent secretariat in Macao to provide the necessary logistical support and finances to help implement the proposed plans and projects. The second and third ministerial conferences of the Forum were held in Macao in September 2006 and November 2010 respectively. The two meetings were officiated by then Secretary General of the State Council, Mr Hua Jianmin, and then Premier of the State Council, Mr Wen Jiabao, respectively. The second Forum explored the theme of sustainable development and discussed ways to help enterprises in the Mainland, Macao and Portuguese-speaking countries to grasp business opportunities arising from the Forum. Another three-year action plan for economic cooperation was signed during this meeting. During the third Forum, the participating countries signed the Action Plan for Economic and Trade Cooperation 2010-2013, which outlined more projects and clearer objectives compared with the action plan in 2006. The third action plan added co-operation initiatives in the fields of education, finance, tourism, transport, communications, culture, broadcasting, sport, health and technology. It also proposed to achieve a bilateral trade volume of US$100 billion between China and Portuguese-speaking countries by 2013. The Macao Training Centre of the Forum was also inaugurated. Then Premier Wen Jiabao also announced six measures to promote Sino-Portuguese ties during the third Forum. These measures included: the establishment of a US$1 billion co-operation and development fund between China and Portuguese-speaking countries; provision of 1.6 billion Yuan in concessional loans to the Asian and African members of the Forum; training 1,500 officials and technical personnel for the Asian and African members of the Forum; provision of materials, equipment, technical personnel and other support for one bilateral agricultural project in each Asian and African member of the Forum; provision of 1,000 one-year government scholarships to students from the Asian and African members of the Forum; and provision of medical equipment worth 10 million Yuan to each Asian and African member of the Forum. According to official statistics, bilateral trade between China and Portuguese-speaking countries stood at US$5.6 billion in 2002; the figure hit US$10 billion in 2003 when the Forum was founded. By 2008, bilateral trade already reached US$77 billion, realising the goal of exceeding US$50 billion one year ahead of schedule. In the first nine months of 2010, bilateral trade exceeded US$68 billion, a surge of 57 percent compared with the same period of the previous year. In 2012, the total value of exports and imports between China and Portuguese-speaking countries was US$128.497 billion, a year-on-year rise of 9.6 percent. In the first eight months of 2013, the figure stood at US$86 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 0.31 percent. Since the establishment of the Forum, bilateral investments between China and Portuguese-speaking countries have surged rapidly. At present, over 800 enterprises have been set up in China by investors from Portuguese-speaking countries. The rise in bilateral investments has greatly boosted economic growth on both sides. Meanwhile China has provided a total of 4 billion Yuan in concessional loans to Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique and Timor-Leste over the past decade. The Cooperation and Development Fund between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, which is proposed by the Chinese government and jointly undertaken by the China Development Bank and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Macao), was formally inaugurated on 26 June 2013. The fund's initial capital stands at US$125 million and are jointly provided by China Development Bank Capital Corp and the Industrial and Commercial Development Fund of Macao. The fund is run and managed by the China-Africa Development Fund under the China Development Bank. The 4th Ministerial Conference of the Forum, which is being held in Macao, aims to further bilateral talks and boost joint development of China and Portuguese-speaking countries.
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New directions, areas and styles have been confirmed for economic and trade co-operation between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries from 2014-2016. This was announced by the Minister of Commerce of the People's Republic of China, Mr Gao Hucheng, at a press conference in Macao today after the signing of the new Action Plan by representatives of China and the Portuguese-speaking countries at the 4th Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries. Highlights of the 2014-2016 Action Plan include striving to push the volume of trade between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries to US$160 billion by 2016, to increase the speed of mutual investment in the next three years; to strengthen the investment environment by making use of the Forum as platform; to enhance the co-operation in teaching Portuguese and Chinese, to step up training to widen the human resources pool; to foster co-operation between financial institutions, and to boost the promotion of the special fund for co-operation and development between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. Mr Gao also said that six measures, which were agreed in the 3rd Ministerial Conference, had been successfully achieved. Moreover, he said that the present of the central government has the same high regards for co-operation with the Portuguese-speaking countries. The Vice Premier, Mr Wang Yang, announced eight new eight measures which he said he believed would bear more results in the next Forum and Macao's increasing role as trade and business platform for China and the Portuguese-speaking countries will be once again be confirmed.
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The new campus of the University of Macau (UM) was officially inaugurated today (5 Nov.) at the University Hall. Around 500 participants, including Vice-Premier Wang Yang, officials from the Guangdong government,the chief executive of the Macao SAR, dignitaries, guests, UM staff, students and alumni representatives attended the occasion to witness this historic moment.Apart from plaque unveiling by Vice-Premier Wang Yang, the chief executive, the chairman of the University Council of the University of Macau, and the student representative also gave their speeches. The inauguration was officiated by Mr Wang Yang, vice-premier of the State Council of PRC, Mr Chui Sai On, chief executive of the Macao SAR - cum- chancellor of UM, Mr Ho HauWah, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), DrTse Chi Wai, chairman of the University Council of UM, and Professor Wei Zhao, rector of UM. The ceremony was declared open by Professor Zhao. Accompanied by Mr Chui Sai On, Mr Wang Yang unveiled the plaque, which marked the official inauguration of the new campus and a new chapter of UM's history. It was truly an unforgettable moment for all the applauding audience. In his speech, Mr Chui Sai On said that thanks to the full support of the central government, UMwas able to build a modern campus in three years' time on a 1.09 sq km plot of land in Hengqin, with the Macao SAR exercising its jurisdictionthereover. . The planning, construction and inauguration of the new campus testified eloquently the support of the central government and the importance it attached to Macao's education. The UM'sNew Campus Project was not only an exemplary case of the Guangdong-Macao cooperation, but was also one of the strategic plans of the talent nurturing enterprise. On the other hand, the central government supported the New Campus Project, and in generalMacao's higher education,with land provision and policy. The government of the Macao SAR would make the best of the UM new campus to enhanceeducation and research and promote the long-term development of local education. 'With the new campus launched, I am happy to say that the days when UM's development was restricted due to lack of space are now gone,' said DrTse Chi Wai in his speech. 'From now on, with support from the government and the community, we will continue to strive to realize the other top-notches on former President Hu Jintao's expectations list.' He thanked the various parties who had contributed themselves to the New CampusProject, including the central government, officials of the relevant provinces, municipalities and districts, the business sectors and communities of Macao and Hong Kong, the chief designer Academician He Jingtang and his design team, the contractor Nam Yue Group, as well as the tens of thousand workers who had worked tirelessly on the construction site over the past three years. UM would live up to the expectations of all its supporters and would make the best of this golden opportunity for its future development. The student representative Chan Ka Man stressed that while the society of Macao and UM were undergoing an unprecedented transformation, as students of UM, they would be guided by their passion and devotion so that they could make a difference to their alma mater, the community and the nation. She then expressed her gratitude to the central and local governments for their support of UM. 'Now we'll be able to learn and grow on a much better campus,' she said. The ceremony closed in a climax when the UM anthem was played by the UM Symphonic Band and chorused by the UM Choir and sung by the entire audience and. After the ceremony, the guests of honourvisited the Residential Colleges where the vice-premier talked with the students to undertand more their college life and study. He was impressed with the environment of the new campus.
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Accompanied by the Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, Chinese Vice Premier Mr Wang Yang today presided over the inauguration of the new campus of the University of Macau at Hengqin. When he spoke at the 10th anniversary celebrations of the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region, Mr Chui said that with the full backing of the Central Government, the University of Macau would be relocated to Henqin. Now three years on, the University has become a reality. Mr Chui said today that throughout the whole process of the planning, construction and the launch of the campus, the Central Government was very much concerned with the development of Macao's education. Meanwhile, it also showed the other success story made possible by a close co-operation between Guangdong and Macao. Mr Chui also said that by fully supporting the development of the new campus, the Central Government had actually provided invaluable resources for the future growth of higher education of Macao through measures such as providing the land. Mr Chui said Macao will make full use of the new campus to achieve the educational goals of pushing for the building of a sustainable and effective education system, to enhance education and research quality, and to develop a sound higher education for Macao. The Chair of the University Council, Dr Tse Chi Wai, said in his speech that it all began on 27 June 2009 when the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress gave unprecedented approval for the University of Macau to build a new campus on Hengqin Island, and allowed the Macao SAR to exercise jurisdiction over it. He said that on 20 December 2009, then Chinese President Hu Jintao officiated at the ground breaking ceremony of the new campus. Then on 20 July 2013, with the opening of the tunnel link giving Macao a direct underwater link and at the same time jurisdiction over the new campus, the institution on Hengqin became an integral part of the Macao SAR. The new campus project was by all accounts an ingenious endeavour under the "One country, Two systems" framework. The Vice Premier and his entourage toured the residential hall after the inauguration to find out more about students'lives on the campus, then returned to the Mainland via the Lotus Border crossing.
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