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After extended discussions between the interested parties, with the intervention of Monetary Authority of Macao (the "AMCM"), the Macao Insurers' Association and some taxi associations signed a platform agreement regarding the third party liability insurance of taxis on 7 July 2011 at the premises of the AMCM. Under this platform, it was agreed that the taxi owners can purchase insurance through any authorized intermediaries or direct from any authorized insurers, and depending on the insurance history of the taxi owners/drivers, insurers may offer policy limits higher than the statutory minimum limits (MOP3.000.000,00). Also, the daily compensation for loss of rental payable by the insurer, in the event of loss of use of the taxi, starting from June 1, 2011 shall be increased to MOP425 from MOP250. The signing of the agreement was witnessed by Dr. António Félix Pontes, Executive Director of the AMCM, and lawmaker, Ms Melinda Chan. Representing the Macao Insurers' Association, were Mr. Yu Kuok Leung on behalf of China Taiping Insurance (Macau) Co. Ltd, and Mr. Steven Chik on behalf of Macau Insurance Co. Ltd. The taxi associations included Associação Geral dos Comerciantes de Trânsito e de Transporte de Macau, Associação dos Comerciantes e Operários dos Automóveis de Macau, Associação Geral dos Proprietários de Táxis de Macau, Associação das Taxistas de Macau, Federação dos Negócios de Táxis de Macau, Associação dos Profissionais e Operadores de Táxis de Macau and Vang Iek Rádio Táxi Co. Ltd.
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The 16th edition of the Macao International Trade and Investment Fair (MIF) will take place from October 20 to 23 (Thursday to Wednesday) at the Convention and Exhibition Centre of Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel. The event is organized by the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) and governmental co-organizers include the Economic Services Bureau of Macao SAR, Macau Government Tourist Office, Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation of Guangdong Province and Chongqing Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Commission. Other co-organizers are: Macao Chamber of Commerce, Industrial Association of Macau, Macau Importers and Exporters Association, Association of Knitting and Spinning Industry of Macao, Macau Shippers´ Association, Macau Association of Banks, Macao Association of Building Contractors and Developers, The Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Association of Macau, The Macau Chinese Enterprises Association and The Chinese Manufacturers´ Association of Hong Kong. The Permanent Secretariat of the Forum on Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and the Portuguese-Speaking Countries (Macao), International Lusophone Markets Business Association and the World Federation of Chinese Entrepreneurs Organization will act as partner organizations. The Macao Convention & Exhibition Association, Macao Fair & Trade Association and the Association of Advertising Agents of Macao will be in charge of coordination of the 16th MIF. The MIF is entering into its 16th edition this year. Macao International Trade and Investment Fair is the largest and the most important international economic and trade event held annually in Macao. Last year, there were 1400 booths, having attracted 760 exhibitors and eighty thousand visitors. A total of 1151 business matching sessions were held, culminated with the signing of 62 cooperation protocols, involving business up to the extent of 4 Billion Patacas. During the 4-day event, 35 forums and presentations were held, with 6700 participants. This clearly demonstrates that the MIF has effectively assumed its role as a regional service platform and a bridge for economic and trade exchanges. This year, MIF will maintain the theme "Cooperation – Key to Business Opportunities". By setting-up themed pavilions, conferences with different features, business matching activities and sourcing negotiations, MIF aims to further develop Macao as a world tourism and leisure centre and regional business service platform, while promoting the moderate diversification of Macao´s economy. MIF will display products, services, technology and investment projects of the exhibitors - companies and organizations - from Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, as well as from the Portuguese-Speaking Countries and other countries, to promote cooperation and exchange in such areas as economic, commercial, investment, tourism, MICE, creative industries, so as to jointly meet the new round of development opportunities. New Highlights to Develop Regional Cooperation To further promote the integration within MIF´s traditional markets (Mainland China, Hong Kong, Portuguese-Speaking countries and Macao) and to strengthen market ties with Taiwan, Southeast Asian Countries, Europe and The Americas, so as to broaden the development space for the MIF, a series of new measures were introduced, in the context of the content and professional services, to highlight the theme of the MIF - cooperation and development. Special Zones to Create more Business Opportunities In order to provide more investment and cooperation projects for the selection of the participants, in this edition of the MIF, besides improvement to the Industrial and Creative Zones, Electrical Appliances Zone and Taiwan Pavilion, and enrichment of the content in the SME´s Retail Sale Zone and Digital Technology Zone, new thematic zones will be introduced, for exhibition of mahogany furniture and small commodities. Promotional seminars to link-up the SMEs With a view of strengthening the cooperation between Guangdong and Macao, under the Guangdong-Macao Cooperation Framework Agreement, the MIF will offer a Hengqin (Zhuhai) Exhibition Zone as well as a Nansha (Guangzhou) Exhibition Zone. Besides, in addition to a series of presentations on investment opportunities in Hengqin and Nansha, to provide cooperation and development opportunities to the SMEs, especially those from the above-mentioned territories. Participation of more professional visitors to promote multi-pairing Invitations were sent out to a large number of sourcing companies, leading enterprises and professional visitors to the thematic zones. The Organizers will provide "MIF Express" and "Special Benefits to Professional Visitors", in a bid to enhance the effectiveness of the business matching and negotiations. Optimization of "One Trip, Multiple-Stop" Service, to Share Synergy To further improve the effectiveness to the participants, MIF will continue to cooperate actively with its neighbouring partners to provide the "One Trip, Multiple-Stop" program, by organizing for the MIF participants, visits departing from Macao, to the Canton Fair and on-site inspection trips to Hengqin (Zhuhai) and Nansha (Guangzhou), in order to attract a larger number of participants and to share synergy, while providing the greatest benefits and more business opportunities to the participants. Furthermore, taking advantage of the platform provided by the MIF to promote "Made in Macao", "Macao Brand" and "Macao Design" products, as well as products from the Portuguese-Speaking Countries with agents in Macao, the Organizer will direct professional visitors to the recently-opened "Macao Ideas" – Macao Products Display Centre, where the afore-mentioned articles are on display. Professional Fashion Show to show Lifestyle and Creativity In cooperation with the Macao Cultural Institute and the Macau Productivity and Technology Transfer Centre, respectively, MIF will continue to offer a Cultural and Creative Zone and also a Professional Fashion Show Zone, which will serve as cooperation and exchange platforms for the cultural and creative industry-related companies, designers, design agencies, brand operation organizations and apparel manufactures. Distinct Themes to Highlight the Trade and Investment Aspect Covering an area of 30 thousand square metres, the MIF venue will hold 1600 booths. Main exhibition zones include the Exhibition Zones of Provinces and Municipalities of Mainland China, the Portuguese-Speaking Countries Pavilion, the European Pavilion, Macao Pavilion, Hengqin (Zhuhai) Exhibition Zone, Nansha (Guangzhou) Exhibition Zone, Cultural and Creative Zone, Apparel Zone, Electrical Appliances Zone and Mahogany Furniture Zone. Retail Zones include the Macau SMEs´ Zone, Taiwan Pavilion and the Digital Equipment Zone. Forums to promote cooperation and development "International Trade and Investment Forum 2011" and the "8th World Chinese Entrepreneurs Summit" will be held during the 16th MIF, where participants from Mainland China and abroad will discuss about economic and trade cooperation and development. Besides, several government entities and chambers of commerce, from Macao, Mainland China and abroad, will organize forums and seminars on trade cooperation and other specialized matters. A number of incentives to encourage SMEs´ participation To enable local the SMEs to make better use of the MIF platform to open-up business opportunities, the Organizer will continue to subside the local SMEs and provide a number of preferential treatments, as follows: • Special discount in booth rental There will be 140 booths in the "Macao SMEs ´Zone". The Organizer will provide the following benefits to eligible local SMEs: 40% off the booth rental, i.e., for a 9 square metres booth, after subsidy provided by the Organizer, the rental will be MOP3,600.00. Registration before July 20 will enjoy a 10% discount. Participants in previous local exhibitions organized by IPIM will be entitled to a 10% discount. • Additional Benefits Each exhibitor is entitled to broadcast its short advertising video in the 12 Macao Trade and Invest Kiosks, free of charge. Booths applications will be treated in accordance with the principle availability and priority. Geographic allocation will be made by means of lucky draw. Applications for exhibition at the "SME Zone" will be accepted from July 14 to 27 (Monday to Friday), from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Applicants should come in person to the MIF Administrative and Services Centre and bring along the relevant application form together with the required documents. A briefing and recruitment session for the "Macao SME Zone" of the 16th MIF will be held on July 13, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., at the Macao Business Support Centre (MBSC). SMEs interested to participate as exhibitors in the "SME Zone" are welcome. A vast array of services provided by the MIF To assist the local SMEs to explore business opportunities and to find suitable partners, the Organizer will provide a series of business matching services, covering business matching in franchise and chain store operations, brand agencies and other projects. Both on-line pre-business matching and on-site business matching services are available. For details, please call: (853) 2872 8328. During the preparations period of the MIF, the "MIF Administrative and Support Centre", located at the Macao Business Support Centre (MBSC) (Alameda Dr. Carlos d´Assumpção, no. 263, 20th Floor) will provide a wide range of services to the exhibitors and other merchants, from home and abroad. For further information about the 16th Macao International Trade and Investment Fair, please call MIF´s hotline at 853-28828711, fax (853-28828722 or visit the following official website: ww.mif.com.mo.
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"Macao Franchise Expo 2011" (2011MFE), which is organized by Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), Brazilian Franchise Association (ABF), Association of Chain and Franchise Promotion, Taiwan (ACFPT), Macao International Brand Enterprise Commercial Association (MIBA), Macau Chain Stores and Franchise Association (MCFA) and Licensing and Franchising Association of Hong Kong (LFA), supported by Chinese Chain Store & Franchise Association (CCFA), International Franchise Association (IFA) and Japan Franchise Association (JFA), will be held during July 8 – 10, 2011 at the Venetian~Macao~Resort~Hotel CotaiExpo Hall D. It aims at promoting international franchises, chain businesses and branded products, enhancing and promoting local brand products to step toward global limelight, encouraging the young generation to start their own businesses and SMEs for business transformation. Bigger scale with increased international participation
With the slogan "Brand Expansion Continues, Business Opportunities to be Seized", 2011MFE is a unique exposition which includes exhibition, forums, business matching and products & services presentations. 2011MFE is the third edition of the event, the past results are obvious and more and more exhibitors are eager to take part in event. In response to the increasing demand, the exposition's area has been enlarged from 3,000 square meters of last year to more than 5,000 square meters this year. There are more than 150 exhibitors and 200 booths in 2011MFE, a 30 percent increase over last year. Among the exhibitors, 45 are Macao companies. This year, the exhibitors are from thirteen different countries or regions, which include Mainland China, America, Japan, Portugal, Brazil, Malaysia, Vietnam, Mexico, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao and engaging in different industries like food and beverages, retail, services, education, strategic planning and marketing, and consulting services. Exhibitors from diversified industries and world-renowned brands to look for business partners in Macao
Chain and franchising businesses have been growing rapidly in Macao. Corresponding to the favourable feedback of exhibitors, the organizers has enlarged the event scale as well as the professionalism of the event, so as to consolidate Macao as the gateway platform for international chain and franchising brands. There will be internationally renowned brands to exhibit in 2011MFE this year, with an increased proportion of overseas exhibitors, accounted to 70% of the exhibitors. At the same time, 2011MFE is no lack of famous international and local brands, such as, the largest fast-food chain outlet American brand Subway, Chinese Fashion Brand Azona, Taiwanese Drinks Comebuy, Fujian ShaXian Snacks, Xinyin & Noble Bridal Salon, McDull , Taiwanese delicatessens Master MI and Meet Fresh, GYU-KaKu from Japan, Brazilian food chain stores MegaMatte, Mexican sports drinks brand Red Drink and Malaysian education franchise brand Cambridge English for Life. Attracting thousands of buyers and opening up co-operation opportunities To attract more high quality overseas buyers to visit the expo, the organizers paid visits to different countries and regions to invite enterprises and franchisors to participate in 2011MFE. Up till now, 20 industrial and business associations have organized business delegations of nearly 1,000 people from cities of Guangdong Province, Hangzhou, Sichuan and Shenyang to join the event. The organizer has already received more than 150 brand co-operation projects and has pre-arranged more than 300 business matching session. This reflects that MFE has gradually become a regional franchise brands and business co-operation platform. At the same time, MFE has provided an excellent chance for youth of Macao to start off their own businesses as well as for those local small and medium-sized enterprises to transform their businesses. In fact, threshold of the chain and franchising businesses is not very high, the royalty of some brands can be as low as around 20,000 Patacas. Industry experts and professionals inspire small & medium-sized enterprises with new ideas of franchising and chain businesses To consolidate Macao's role as the regional economic and trade platform, two forums about chain and franchise business opportunities of international brands will be held on July 7 and July 8. The first forum will be held on July 7 at 6 p.m. at Macau Tower Convention and Entertainment Centre, Level 4 - Grand Hall. The topic will be "Chain and Franchise Operation and Development of the World Tourism and Leisure Center", seniors managers and experienced leaders from various international organizations and business associations from Mainland China, Brazil, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau will present their own points of view on the topic. The second forum will be held on July 8, which is also the first day of the expo. The topic will be "Chain & Franchise Strategy is the Key Way Out", groups of famous international chain business specialists together with the representatives of different enterprises are invited to explore different models of running the chain and franchising business and to exchange their experiences in dealing with problems encountered. Through focus questions prepared by the moderator and experience sharing of the invited speakers, it is expected that the audience can be inspired by these in-depth discussions. Food Tasting, MFE Square and Multi-functional Area boost atmosphere for business matching Based on the past experiences, food and beverages, and retail franchisors received most attention. Therefore, the organizer has put more efforts in inviting more brands and franchisors of these two areas to participate in 2011MFE. Similar to the previous MFE, there will be a Food and Beverages Tasting Area, together with a newly added MFE Square and a Multi-functional area, which is expected to boost the match making atmosphere to its highest extent with the special food and fabulous performances. One-stop support service to assist enterprise development and financing
2011MFE includes exhibitors from marketing, financial consultancy, real estates consultancy businesses, which can provide professional advisory services to those who are interested in starting the chain and franchising business. Moreover, Macao Economic Services (DSE) will also have a booth on site to provide information about the "Small & Medium Sized Enterprises Schemes". Free Admission. Don't Miss the Opportunity!
MFE has become an effective platform for enterprises from various countries/regions that are exploring and exploiting chain and franchising business opportunities. The three-day event is free admission, business representatives and general publics are all welcomed to visit the expo. The first day of 2011MFE (July 8) will be opened to professional visitors only, the opening hours is from 11:00am to 8:00 pm. While July 9 and July 10 will be opened to all visitors, the opening hours on July 9 is from 11:00am to 8:00 pm and the opening hours on July 10 is from 11:00am to 06:00 pm. Two shuttle buses services lines will be also arranged on Saturday and Sunday. (1. Between Estrada Marginal do Hipodromo（near Royal Supermarket, Areia Preta）and 2011MFE venue and 2. Between Avenida Doutor Mário Soares（Macau Square）and 2011MFE venue.) For other enquiries, please contact the secretariat, Tel: 6212 8811 or visit the MFE official website: www.mfe.mo. Information
2011 MFE has arranged over 320 business matching meetings (300 meetings in 2010), of which over 70% of participants are SMEs and fresh entrepreneurs. As requested by the exhibitors, 2011 MFE will also arrange business matching meetings on an ad hoc basis during the exhibition. We successfully arranged over 1033 meeting in 2010.
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Since the law on "Prohibition of Providing Illegal Accommodation" took effect on August 13 2010, the Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) has sealed a total of 142 premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally. One more management staff was seized and three occupants failed to fulfill their duty of cooperation. Inspections involved investigations to a total of 661 occupants of premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally, including 36 overstayers and 29 illegal immigrants, whose cases are being follow up by police authorities. Macau Government Tourist Office has waged a total of 142 sanctions and 29 operators who provided accommodation illegally were fined 200 000 patacas each according to the law on "Prohibition of Providing Illegal Accommodation". To date, two operators have voluntarily paid the fine of 200 000 patacas within the statutory period. At the same time, 21 occupants who failed to fulfill their duty of cooperation were fined 3,000 patacas each, among which nine have already paid the fine. For those who failed to pay the fine within the statutory period, MGTO has notified the Financial Services Bureau to enforce the collection of fine and informed PSP to deny reentry of the involved persons into Macau if they are non-residents. MGTO, together with PSP, will carry on operation to crack down illegal accommodation. Staff of Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) continues to check the premises to ensure they remain sealed and supply of water and electricity suspended. MGTO stressed that damaging the seal and resuming supply of water and electricity is a criminal offence which will be submitted to judicial entity for follow up.
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Community Education and Development Programme (CEDP), Institute for Tourism Studies is organizing an Exhibition for Student's Artwork at 1st floor show room, The Juvenile Art Exhibition and Performances Hall, Rua Filipe O'Costa, Edifício Caixa Escolar from 5 to 21 July. The exhibition opens to the general public from 1200 to 2000 during the period (Closed on Mondays). Exhibits include Photography, Mosaic Art, Creative Acrylic Painting, 3D Paper Modeling, Macao Souvenir Design and Silver Clay Art. All the artworks displayed are created by students under 29 years old. Through this public exhibition, IFT hopes to let the general public know more about its Culture and Creativity courses. Through this channel, CEDP also hopes to share students' artistic achievements with the general public and so as to boost the development of Culture and Creativity Industry in Macao. As a contribution to the development of Culture and Creativity Industry in Macao, CEDP has been providing courses related to Culture and Creativity since 2010 so that Macao citizens who are interested in this area can have more chances to learn and be trained for free. Their appreciation of beauty, knowledge and skills in Art can also be raised.
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To provide diversified training opportunities for managers and professionals and to enhance the management quality of the local service industry, Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT) and Cornell-Nanyang Institute of Hospitality Management co-orgainsed an Executive Development Programme on Financial Management on 30 Jun & 1 Jul. The objective of this course is to help participants learn how to apply financial statement information and analysis to improve managerial decision-making. The programme attracted twenty-seven registrations from senior managers of local hotels and resorts, and organizations from neighboring regions. This was the last module of four in "Advanced Certification in Strategic Hospitality Management". Other than participants of this module, 12 hoteliers who finished all the four modules were awarded the Advanced Certification. IFT has the honour of inviting Dr. Chris WH Chan, Professor in Accounting at the School of Hotel Administration, Cornell University, USA, and Dean of the Cornell-Nanyang Institute of Hospitality Management (CNI), to deliver the last module. Dr. Chan was previously Associate Professor of Accounting as well as Assistant Dean and Director of MBA programmes at the University of Hong Kong (HKU).Dr. Chan has a diverse consulting and executive education portfolio with a wide range of companies in Asia-Pacific region. His work has focused on strategic brand development, financial performance metrics, corporate governance, social responsibility, and sustainability. He is frequently invited to speak at various business conferences and workshops as a keynote or panel speaker on corporate governance, social responsibility and sustainability, human capital development, and luxury industries in Asia. The focus of the programme is on professional knowledge in financial management from senior management and owner perspectives. Topics covered include:
Ÿ Fundamental analysis of a hospitality organisation's business model, revenue model, and finance model
Ÿ Development of a systematic comprehension of financial statements of international hospitality companies from both management and user perspectives
Ÿ Application of quantitative and qualitative financial analysis tools for hospitality and related organizations
Ÿ Cashflow analysis, free cash flow, and capital budgeting decision makingprinciples and techniques
Ÿ Debt financing instruments and weighted average cost of capital
Ÿ Trade-offs within cost-volume-profit analysis in evaluating operating alternatives
Ÿ Pricing strategies and channel decision making As the tourism industry is growing swiftly in Macao, so will the demand for knowledgeable professionals. This course offered both macro and micro understanding of financial analysis and related business challenges of companies in the hospitality industry in a fast-growing but highlycompetitive region. Participants of the programme gained the ability and confidence to use financial analysis and management tools to better manage short-term profitability as well as achieve sustainable financial stability of their operations. IFT is always striving to enhance its research and teaching so as to contribute to the industry and the society. By organising seminars and workshops, IFT constantly shares with the industry the most updated information and research findings about the future development of Macao's tourism industry and ways to enhance it.
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Consumer Council's latest specific price survey report on tissue and toilet papers has been released. In comparison with data of the same period in last month, most surveyed brands recorded no change in price, some showed slight decrease in average price, and only a few brands recorded increase in price due to different package of the products. The Council conducted the survey on 29th June, surveying 13 samples of tissue and toilet papers from 25 local retail outlets. In comparison with last month's data, 9 surveyed samples showed no change in price, or had decreased slightly in price from around 1.5% to 9%. Consumer Council indicates that only certain brands recorded price rise and this may be caused by the different package of the products (10 rolls of tissues with 2 rolls free or other free gifts). The overall average price of the samples surveyed this month remains quite stable. Further, the price difference of the same brand sold in different retail outlets observed this time is has shrink from 53% last month to 39% this month. Consumers may visit the Council's website (www.consumer.gov.mo) to use its online price search function; both "Supermarket Price Information Platform" and "Specific Product Price Information Platform" make checking prices of various commodities an easy job. The specific price survey report on tissue and toilet papers is now available online on the Council's official website. For enquiries, please call 8988 9315.
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Macao Post announced that the mail delivery services (including Correspondence, Printed Matters, Small Packet and Parcel) previously affected by the strike action taken by the workers' union in Canada have resumed normal and the related services may be subject to delay. Thank you for your kind attention.
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Consumer Council conducted a test on the safety and hygienic conditions of cooking salt available in the market. The test, which quoted the national standard GB 2721-2003 'Hygienic standard for cooking salt', examined 18 salt examples for their contained levels of elements including heavy metals, iodine, and nitrite, etc. All samples complied with the quoted standard. Test result can be found in the latest issue no. 214 Consumer Report. Consumer Council has conducted irregular tests on salt in recent years to ensure their safety conditions. In the current test, the Council tested not only the safety and hygienic conditions of salt but also the accuracy of weight and label claims. 1 salt sample was found to weigh less than the weight labeled; another salt sample with 'iodised' label was found to contain only an amount of iodine less than the required amount of the quoted national standard. Only those samples with 20-50mg of iodine/kg can be classified as 'iodised' salt. Consumer Council has forwarded these cases to concerned departments and requested suppliers to adjust the labels of the involved products. Consumer Council indicates that many salt brands are now advertised as 'non-chemical processed' or 'with no additives' and their average selling price is sometimes as high as 20 times of that of other brands. However, testing result shows no distinct difference between these salt samples and other brands with average price of around 1 to 2 dollars. Result of the mentioned test on cooking salt can be found in issue no. 214 Consumer Report. The latest Consumer Report also covers details of the 'Code of Practice' for souvenir retailers (specialty foods), and the 19th Consumers International (CI) World Congress held earlier. Consumer Report is now available free of charge at the two offices of Consumer Council, Public Information Centre at Vicky Plaza and libraries. Consumers may also access the resources online at the Council's official website (http://www.consumer.gov.mo). For enquiries, please call 8988 9315.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the total merchandise export for May 2011 amounted to MOP589 million, up by 13.8% year-on-year, of which value of re-exports (MOP393 million) and domestic exports (MOP196 million) increased by 14.6% and 12.3% respectively; exports of Tobacco & wine soared by 94.7% year-on-year. Total merchandise import amounted to MOP4.90 billion, up by 44.9% year-on-year, of which imports of Mobile phones soared by 91.2%. Merchandise trade deficit amounted to MOP4.31 billion in May 2011. In the first five months of 2011, total value of merchandise export decreased by 8.2% year-on-year to MOP2.78 billion, of which value of re-exports declined by 12.7%, but that of domestic exports rose by 2.0%; meanwhile, total value of merchandise import increased by 37.0% to MOP22.88 billion. Merchandise trade deficit for the first five months of 2011 widened by 47.1% year-on-year to MOP20.10 billion; the exports/imports ratio dropped by 5.9 percentage points year-on-year to 12.2%. Merchandise export to Hong Kong (MOP1.19 billion), Mainland China (MOP461 million) and the USA (MOP249 million) in the first five months of 2011 decreased by 14.4%, 4.2% and 22.4% respectively year-on-year; however, exports to the EU (MOP166 million) increased by 4.6%. Exports of Jewellery (MOP144 million) and Clocks & watches (MOP137 million) decreased by 69.8% and 22.9% respectively, but that of Tobacco & wine (MOP244 million) grew by 65.3%; meanwhile, exports of Textile & garment declined by 7.5% to MOP584 million. In the first five months of 2011, merchandise import from Mainland China (MOP7.04 billion) and the EU (MOP5.59 billion) expanded by 36.1% and 54.8% respectively year-on-year. Imports of Consumer goods rose by 39.0% to MOP13.87 billion, of which imports of Food & beverages (MOP3.38 billion), Gold jewellery (MOP2.10 billion), Watches (MOP1.43 billion) and Handbags & wallets (MOP1.13 billion) increased by 38.2%, 68.1%, 33.9% and 104.6% respectively. Moreover, imports of Capital goods (MOP4.06 billion) registered year-on-year increase of 69.9%. In the first five months of 2011, total value of merchandise import and export amounted to MOP25.66 billion, up by 30.1% compared with MOP19.73 billion a year earlier.
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