News

Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the average daily wage of construction workers was MOP507 in the second quarter of 2010, down by 4.2% quarter-to-quarter. The average daily wage of skilled & semi-skilled workers (MOP537) fell by 5.1%, of which plant operators (MOP667), scaffolders (MOP643), concreters and drain layers (MOP640) and levellers (MOP637) were earning higher average wages; meanwhile, the average daily wage of unskilled workers (MOP340) registered an increase of 8.6%. After discounting the effect of inflation, the wage index of construction workers for the second quarter of 2010 was 93.2 in real terms, down by 1.6% over the previous quarter. As regards construction materials, the average price of spiral and round reinforcing steel bars increased by 15.5% quarter-to-quarter to MOP4,882 per tonne, and that of Portland cement rose by 4.5% to MOP653 per tonne; however, the average price of concrete registered a decrease of 2.2% to MOP308 per cubic metre. In the second quarter of 2010, the price index of construction materials for residential buildings rose by 4.5% quarter-to-quarter to 138.3; in particular, the price indices of steel and timber increased by 14.9% and 1.9% respectively, while the price indices of aluminium and concrete went down by 2.4% and 1.9%. Compared with the same quarter of 2009, the price index of construction materials for residential buildings registered an increase of 14.0%.
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Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) launched the “Meet in Macau” corporate networking lunch and mini mart in Malaysia and Singapore last week to arouse local MICE planners’ interest to boost more business into Macau.
A delegation of 20 business tourism officials and trade representatives from Macau presented the latest MICE development and stimulation plans of the city to over 80 and 110 local corporate and trade representatives at the corporate networking lunch, followed by a seminar and mini mart held in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore respectively on July 20 and 22. This is the fourth consecutive year MGTO organized the annual event to promote Macau’s MICE business in Malaysia and Singapore. The promotional activities of MGTO held in the two markets aim to network and update key MICE planners, travel agents, corporate clients and airline partners about the latest tourism developments and incentive programmes in Macau, while encouraging more international companies to choose the Macau as their desired MICE destinations in Asia. Mr. Licénio da Cunha, Head of Product and Special Projects Department of MGTO, in his opening remarks at the corporate networking lunch in Kuala Lumpur said, “Macau has developed itself into an increasingly popular destination for companies and corporations worldwide, as an ideal location to stage important meetings, rewarding incentive programmes, large conferences and public exhibitions.”
He further expressed that Macau does not just provide for holiday makers and vacationers, but also for the professional and executive crowd, “Macau will enchant and surprise everyone with its grand array of hotels, venues and facilities that make it a convenient, affordable and wondrous destination for corporate parties and events.”
Feedback from both guests and Macau trade partners indicated that the event was both useful and informative. The MGTO representative office in Malaysia and Singapore also had an influx of enquiries from meeting planners after the event. On the occasion, an outdoor campaign named “Macau – The Right Mix of Business & Leisure” was launched at the Raffles Place Park by the MGTO Representative Office in Singapore from July 19 to 22, to echo with the “Meet in Macau” session. Attention-grabbing images were displayed at the lawn area while information flyers about “MICE in Macau” were distributed, with an attached survey coupon for readers to complete in exchange for a Macau souvenir.
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The annual emergency safety exercise at the heliport was carried out on the 26 July night to 27 July early morning at the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal. The exercise simulated the rescue work done according to the respective emergency plan by the concerned parties in response to a helicopter accident, which was participated by 9 government bodies and operators. The drill was deemed smooth with its goal achieved. Originally planned on 20 July but postponed due to tropical storm "CHANTHU", the exercise took place at 23:00 yesterday to 01:00 this early morning and was organized in accordance with the work schedule approved in the beginning of this year by the Facilitation and Security Committee. The scenario simulated a helicopter accident occurring upon landing at the helipad at the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal. A fire was caused. Three passengers on board sustained injuries to different degrees. Immediately after the accident has occurred, the concerned parties activated the Heliport Emergency Plan and dedicated themselves into rescue and evacuation work. Coordinated by Civil Aviation Authority and organized by East Asia Airlines, the exercise involved the participation of Customs Services, Public Security Police Force, Fire Services Bureau, Maritime Administration, Civil Aviation Authority, East Asia Airlines, Sociedade do Turismo e Diversoes de Macau and so on. More than 80 participants played a part in the drill which aims at testing the effectiveness of the Heliport Emergency Plan and assessing the capacity of the rescue personnel in responding to contingencies so that improvements can be made for further enhancing the coordination, cooperation and communication between all involved entities.
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There are 270 investors in Macao who bought Octave Notes with an investment of MOP 119 million in total, of which, MOP 1.07 million and 17.76 million came from the affected series 21 and 22 respectively. Up to 26 July 2010, Monetary Authority of Macao (AMCM) has received 27 complaints, involving a total investment amount of MOP 15.78 million for the affected series 21 and 22. After receiving the complaints about Octave Notes, AMCM has, pursuant to current policies and guidelines on handling complaints (http://www.amcm.gov.mo/pledge/Pledge.htm), requested the distributing banks to follow up, respond to complainants and submit to AMCM investigation reports with their findings and other relevant information. At the same time, apart from its own follow-up and investigation, AMCM maintains close contact with overseas regulators handling similar cases, exchanges views on handling process and progress. In addition, meetings with the distributing banks have been held and the banks have been requested to follow up the cases seriously. In the recent meeting held on 19 July 2010, the distributing banks indicated that they would speed up the process with reference to the way adopted by the banks concerned in neighbouring regions. AMCM established in 2004 supervisory requirements for selling of financial investment products by financial institutions, which call for clear disclosure of the particulars, features and inherent risks of the products, understanding of customers’ financial status, investment experience and purpose of investment to ensure that the investors have adequate knowledge in assessing risks and returns of the products, setting up effective internal control and risk management systems, and taking measures to ensure that the front-line sales staff have adequate experience, capability and qualification. In view of the Lehman Brothers incident, AMCM has drafted the “Guideline on the Provision and Distribution of Financial Products” which is to be promulgated soon for implementation as the necessary consultation is just closed. The distributing banks have reviewed their sales policies, procedures and the practical implementation, and enhanced the measures for the follow-up of the complaints lodged. Such measures include setting up of a task force to deal with complaints about Octave Notes, customer hotlines, close contact with customers to update progress, interview groups to receive and assist customers, as well as to maintain liaison with the issuing entity to obtain the latest information. AMCM will continue to process complaints in accordance with the “Guideline on Handling of Customer Complaints”, maintain contact with all parties concerned, in particular, the distributing banks with a view to urging them to resolve the cases at an earlier date. In the course of investigation, should violation of supervisory requirements be uncovered, AMCM would take punitive measures pursuant to provisions of the Financial System Act approved by Decree-Law no. 32/93/M of 5 July.
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On 26 July 2010, the inaugural class of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), Singapore Campus met for its orientation day at the Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT) Macao, UNLV Singapore’s partner in offering a Masters Degree in Hospitality Administration. Ten students make up this elite inaugural group, representing the hotel properties of the City of Dreams, Grand Hyatt Macau, L’Arc Hotel Macau, MGM Grand Macau, and the Venetian Macau. The pioneering class will begin their studies on 1 August 2010 beginning with Human Resource Management and Information Technology for the Hospitality Industry; future modules will include Casino Management, Hospitality Finance, and Services Management to name a few. UNLV’s Master of Hospitality Administration (MHA) Executive Programme targets working professionals within the hospitality field. Its flexible programme design, combining distance learning and on-site intensive one-week seminars, is a convenient model for industry professionals to maintain their current employment while pursuing an internationally recognised graduate degree. The MHA degree programme is offered at the Las Vegas and Singapore campuses of UNLV, and Macao is its third programme location. The pioneering batch will visit Las Vegas for Seminar Week in December 2010. UNLV is offering the MHA programme in partnership with IFT Macao, a long time hospitality educator and partner of the university. Dr. Andy Nazarechuk, Dean of UNLV’s Singapore Campus says, “UNLV Singapore is proud to offer this unique opportunity in partnership with IFT Macao to the hospitality professionals of Macao. We are pleased to see the high quality of the first group of students and we are certain that through their graduate studies they will to contribute to the future leadership within the hospitality industry.” Background on UNLV and IFT
UNLV has a 50-year history of academic excellence and its graduates can be found in key management positions in leading hotels throughout the world. The Singapore Campus, which opened in August 2006, is UNLV’s first international campus and has a current student population of over 250 students. UNLV’s Singapore Campus is accredited in the United States and recognised by the Singapore Ministry of Education. IFT, established in 1995, is a public institution of higher education that offers degree and professional programmes in a wide range of tourism-related disciplines such as hospitality, tourism business, heritage, events, retail and marketing, leisure and entertainment, sports and recreation, creative and cultural studies, and culinary arts. IFT has received various awards in recognition of its achievement in quality education. In 2008, IFT was awarded the “Medal of Merit for Tourism” by the Macao SAR Government for its contribution to the development of tourism industry. Contact Information for media interview
For more information or to arrange for interviews with either Dr. Andy Nazarechuk, Dean of UNLV Singapore, or Dr. Fanny Vong, President of IFT Macao, please contact: For UNLV Singapore
Ms. Jenny WeinmanManager of Graduate Programs
(65) 6332-9538 ext. 610
jennifer.weinman@unlv.edu.sg For IFT Macao
Ms. Frida LawSenior Public Relations Officer
(853) 8598-3182
frida@ift.edu.mo
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the unemployment rate for April-June 2010 was 2.8% and the underemployment rate was 1.9%, down by 0.1 and 0.2 percentage point respectively over the previous period (March-May 2010). Total labour force was 326,000 in April-June 2010 and the labour force participation rate stood at 71.6%, with the employed population increasing by about 1,000 over the previous period to 317,000. Analyzed by industry, employment of the Transport, Storage & Communications Sector and Recreational, Cultural, Gaming & Other Services registered an increase. Number of the unemployed decreased by about 300 from the previous period to 9,300. As the summer holiday approached, number of fresh labour force entrants saw increase, accounting for 7.5% of the unemployed, up by 2.1 percentage points over the previous period. In comparison with April-June 2009, the labour force participation rate and the unemployment rate decreased by 1.0 and 0.8 percentage point respectively; however, the underemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point. In the second quarter of 2010, the unemployment rate of local residents stood at 3.4%, down by 0.3 percentage point quarter-to-quarter; meanwhile, the labour force participation rate of local residents rose by 0.9 percentage point to 67.1%.
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The Guangdong and Macao Branded Products Fair 2010, co-hosted by the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute and the Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation of Guangdong Province, concluded today (25 July) with a recorded admission of 98,000 visitors (as at 3:30 pm 25 July) and a retail turnover of MOP 36 million. During the four-day Fair, 14 seminars and product presentations were conducted, 617 business matching sessions completed, 10 cooperation agreements signed.
Ten agreements inked
At the 2010 Fair, ten cooperation projects have been signed, including one agreement, seven sales intentions, one contract and one memorandum of understanding. The majority of the signatories came from Macao, and cities from the Guangdong Province (including Guangzhou, Zhongshan, Huizhou, Zhuhai, Meizhou) and Hong Kong. Among the agreements are: Strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperation Agreement between Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute and the Bureau of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation of Guangzhou Municipality, and the Memorandum of Understanding on Jointly Promote Overseas Investment and Trade, Strengthen Trade Service Platform and Foster Convention and Exhibition Cooperation between Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute and the Zhongshan Bureau of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation. Other cooperation projects cover the trades of accessories and spare parts for motor-cycles and bicycles, sales of farm produce, food and beverages industry, sales of foodstuffs. Significant increase in business matching and negotiations over the previous edition
Prior to the beginning of the Fair, nearly 200 branded products of Guangdong and Macao for business matching were received by the Organisers. Hence, 398 business matching sessions, showing a 64.5% growth over last year’s 589 sessions, were arranged during the Fair. 69 (11.2%) out of the total number of business matching sessions were for Macao enterprises, translating a 10% growth vis-à-vis last year. 111 (18%) sessions were among Guangdong enterprises, compared to 8% growth over the previous year. 39 or 6% were sessions for Guangdong and Macao enterprises to match businesses with foreign enterprises, representing 22% more than that of last year. Enterprises participating at these sessions are from Macao, Guangdong Province (including Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Shantou, Foshan, Shaoguan, Heyuan, Meizhou, Huizhou, Shanwei, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen) and Hong Kong. Items for purchase negotiations include consumer products, foodstuffs, daily necessities, electronic products, and clothings. Seminars and Presentations introduce products technology
On the first day of the 2010 Fair, the Services industry and Trade in Services Forum saw the exchange of ideas and in-depth discussions over the topic of trade and economic cooperation in services industry of Guangdong and Macao by representatives from the Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation of Guangdong Province and those from the business associations and enterprises of Macao. The four-day event hosted 14 seminars and presentations over themes such as beverages, tea tasting, green household utensils, healthcare and cosmetics. Stronger promotion responded with more sales and purchases
With the experience gained from last year’s Fair, the Organisers have issued more guidelines to encourage more quality merchandise for the 2010 Fair. To cope with the promotion of the Asian Games in Guangzhou, a designated booth for the Asian Games souvenirs display and sales was set up on site, winning much popularity from visitors. Promotions were rolled out in all forms before the Fair for more publicity. As at 3:30pm today, admission reaches a cumulative total of 98,000 for the four-day event. The increased crowd stimulated the on site sales turnover to MOP 36 million. Some exhibitors found items short of the scaled up demand. The carnival-style Fair and more access to the Fair appeal to residents
Cultural shows and performances were held recurringly throughout the Fair at the Macau Fisherman’s Wharf Convention and Exhibition Centre to draw in more residents and tourists. Performances from Macao, Hong Kong and Guangdong were invited to stage their programmes on dancing, magic shows, music, etc. Shuttle buses were arranged to bring residents to and from the venue while 3 hours complimentary parking lots were available to driving visitors. There will be 132 winners for the prizes of the lucky draw and 5 winners for the grand prizes. Results of the lucky draw for the 2010 Fair will be published at the Macao Daily News on 27 July 2010 and on the official website of the Fair at http://www.guangdongmacaofair.com . Five winners were awarded the prizes of the Grand lucky draw whereas 132 winners for other prizes of the draw. The Fair is vital to the deepening of the cooperation between Guangdong province and Macao
The Guangdong and Macao Branded Products Fair 2010 is co-hosted by the Macau Trade and Investment Promotion Institute and the Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation of Guangdong Province, and coordinated by the Macau Fair & Trade Association. To complement the efforts of the governments of Guangdong and Macao SAR on the Outline of the Plan for the Reform and Development of the Pearl River Delta Region and the subsequent Strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperation Agreement between Guangdong and Macao signed in March last year, the 2010 Fair, following the footsteps of the 2009 edition of the event by the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute and the Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation of Guangdong Province, comes again as an important platform jointly fostered by Guangdong province and Macao. The 2010 Fair is the third occasion of its kind as a mega trade and economic activity jointly held by Guangdong province and Macao after the 2003 and 2009 Guangdong and Macao Branded Products Fair. The objectives of the Fair is to make full use of the competitive edge of Macao being a platform for conventions & exhibitions and Guangdong Province as a manufacturing base, to co-promote to the world for economic developments of Guangdong and Macao. The Fair bears significance to the deepening of trade and economic cooperation between Guangdong province and Macao. During the Fair, the Jiangmen Consultancy Office for the Bureau of Foreign Trade and Cooperation of the Jiangmen City conducted its launching ceremony. This turns Macao into full play as a business services platform and assists products of mainland China to enter the market of Macao and to a greater extent to the international market.
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On the third day of the Guangdong and Macao Branded Products Fair 2010, co-hosted by the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute and the Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation of Guangdong Province, eight seminars and product presentations were conducted, three cooperation agreements inked and 178 business matching sessions completed. Admission to the 2010 Fair on this Saturday exceeded 23,000 as at 5:30pm, reaching the highest record since the Opening. Huge crowds of enthusiastic residents populated the Fair for purchase
Admission today (24 July) to the 2010 Fair created a new record since the Opening of the Fair three days ago. More than 23,000 visitors flocked the venue as at 5:30pm on 24 July. Admission was smooth and orderly due to the well preparation of the organizer. The 2010 Fair turned out to be the best weekend activity for local residents. Families of all ages crowded the venue to enjoy the continuous running shows and performances and lucky draw. Daily shows start from 1pm to 9pm. After last year’s Fair, Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute had carried out an in-depth marketing survey to document the experience gained, which helps formulate the directives given to potential exhibitors this year on the kind of merchandize more suitable for Macao residents. Much sought after items include foodstuff, daily necessities, as well as audio visual aids. Booths with free tasting items were queued with long lines of customers. The organizers act as catalysts for three cooperation agreements
Three more cooperation agreements were signed today (24 July) by Jin Yue Xuan B & F Group and Macau Tak Seng F & B Management Co Ltd on a “Contract for Establishing a Restaurant in Macao’, by US MART Chain Supermarket Co Ltd and Meizhou Jia Feng Agricultural Development Co Ltd on their “Sales intention on Agency of Organic Fruits and Vegetables in Macao”, and by US MART Chain Supermarket Co Ltd and Macao Group Foodstuff Co Ltd on their ‘Sales Intention on Agency of Huizhou Branded Dried Fruits, Preserved Vegetables and Agricultural Products in Macao”. The parties entering into cooperation are from Zhuhai, Meizhou and Huizhou. They will be working together mainly on food and beverages and foodstuffs, including the opening of a hot-pot restaurant in Macao, and a Macao Agency on organic fruits and farm product. The organizer had concluded 178 business matching sessions today. Products presentations are welcomed by buyers and Macao residents
Eight presentations were arranged today covering products in the field of beverages, Chinese tea, green household utensils, healthcare products and cosmetics. They include: “Introducing Natural Health Products’ organized by Profit Trading, “Introducing Da Hong Pao Tea” organized by Cultural Club, “Coffee Product Presentation” organized by Excelente Coffee & Food Products Company Limited. As today is Saturday, the Fair is crowded with buyers and local residents, who showed much concern about the content of the presentations particularly those have close ties with their daily lives. Mega buyers turn up to explore Guangdong and Macao markets More international mega-size supermarkets joined the line up to visit the Fair today (24 July) after large scale supermarkets from mainland China and online super buying groups came in the previous two days at the Fair to get to know more about the Guangdong and Macao Branded Products. According to the representative of TESCO, one of the three largest retail chains in the world, they came to know the products of Macao from the Macao Pavilion at the 2nd Guangdong Foreign-invested Enterprises Commodities Fair held this June. They believe Macao have a great variety of quality products, which have good potentials to be sold in the mainland market and this falls in line with their goals and objectives. They were then visiting the Fair to classify the Macao products which were already under negotiations, and to conduct a field search on the Fair to collect more information about the purchase of Macao products. These mega buyers, invited by the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute to come to the Fair 2010 for procurement or business negotiations, include the Guangzhou Grandbuy Co Ltd, Guangzhou Hongsheng Department Store Co Ltd which had built the famous “Hong Sheng Shopping Park”. A rich programme of activities for residents to enjoy
The 2010 Guangdong and Macao Branded Products Fair will come to an end tomorrow (Sunday 25 July). Opening hours on Sunday are: 11am to 8pm. Business matching sessions will be continued on this last day of the Fair. The Cultural shows will be on from 1pm to 8pm, whereas the lucky draw will be conducted from 7:45pm to 8pm. Winners of the lucky draw will be published on the Macao Daily News on 27 July and on the official website of the Fair at http://www.guangdongmacaofair.com As tomorrow is the last day of the Fair, exhibitors will make full use of their last chance to market their products, all residents may be able to buy the items of their choose at a good price.
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Received with enthusiastic response, Guangdong and Macao Branded Products Fair 2010 has five cooperation agreements signed today A huge increase in admission to the Guangdong and Macao Branded Products Fair 2010 co-hosted by the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute and the Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation of Guangdong Province was recorded on the second day of the event. More than 14,000 visitors were recorded as at 5:30pm today (23 July). Trade visitors and buyers, particularly buyers, continued to be drawn in by the product presentations and programmes of the Fair. A total of 160 business matching sessions were completed and 5 cooperation agreements signed. 160 business matching sessions held and five cooperation agreements signed
Participating exhibitors and buyers continued to be encouraged by the organizer to have face-to-face business negotiations and to match business intentions; over 160 business matching sessions were conducted. Five cooperation agreements were successfully inked. The US MART Chain Supermarket Co Ltd had signed three cooperation agreements respectively with Zhuhai Lung Nong Feng Import and Export Co Ltd on their ‘Sales Intention on Agency of Branded Organic Rice and Healthy Products in Macao’, with Guangzhou Bai Xin Animal Farms Co Ltd on their ‘Sales Intention on Agency on High Quality Frozen Meat in Macao”, and with Guangdong Yong Yan Xian Gin Li Da Development Co Ltd (HK) on their “Sales Intention on Agency of Fruits and Soft-Shelled Turtles in Macao”, whereas two other agreements were signed by Goldland MCO Ltd respectively with Multivalued International Trade Limited on their “Sales Intention on Bicycle Equipments”, and with Heshan Guoji Nanlian Motorcycle Industry Co Ltd on their ‘Sales Intention on Branded Motor-cycle’. The US MART Chain Supermarket Co. Ltd is among those enterprises which had agreements signed at both the 2009 and 2010 Fair. According to its Director William Cheung, its controlling company City Mall Shopping Center Ltd had already executed all three cooperation agreements concluded in the previous edition of the Fair. Three more agreements will be tabled for signature tomorrow (24 July). He said that the cooperation agreements concluded this year were facilitated by the strong support from the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute and the Department of Agriculture of Guangdong Province. Seminars and product presentations as magnets to trade visitors and residents
Six product presentations were arranged, namely, “Natural cleaner” by Guangzhou Asia Urdan Co. Ltd, “Environment Protection concept for kitchen” by Guangdong Elecpro Electric Appliance Holding Co. Ltd., “New Concepts on Environmental protection” by Agencia Comercial Chan Wai, “Appreciation on Crystal” by Bella Ornaments Gift Shop, “How to choose effective anti-aging products’ by Salao de Beleza Chun Ieng, and “Introducing Da Hong Pao Tea” by Cultural Club. The presentations were not only well received by many professionals and trade visitors from Macao and Guangdong Province, but also attracted plenty of Macao residents who showed interests in the business opportunities brought along by the presentations of the quality products. Buyers and resident visitors showed great interest in the additives-free ‘Natural Cleaner’ demonstrated by the Guangzhou Asia Urdan Co. Ltd and were eager to try out the products instantly. Residents fuel the buying and selling frenzy at the venue
Favourable weather on the second day of the Fair brought in crowds of residents who joined the shopping frenzy at the weekend. Admission soared to 14,000 as at 5:30pm on 23 July. Many exhibition booths began to run out of stock. The majority of the exhibitors said the buying power of Macao residents is very strong. For repeat exhibitors, having learned from previous experience, they have stocked up many more items for sale on site this year. For instance, the Longhai Jellyfish Group Co., Ltd, from Dianbai County of Maoming city, had in the Fair 2009 sold out their 40 boxes of goods long before the last day of the event. With this wonderfully positive response, they brought in 80 boxes of goods this year, and still the demand was far greater than supply. They had to stop selling the items and change their strategies to product tasting only. The AGHG aloe products exhibition booths of the American Global Health Group, LLC’s Taishan AGHG Aloe Products Co. Ltd and Global Health (Taishan) Plantation Co.,Ltd. were very popular among visitors. The booths gathered crowds of visitors for product tasting, which reflected the new concept of health living of the public. Although this is the debut appearance of AGHG at the Fair in Macao, AGHG is full of confidence to introduce to Macao their much sought after items from the US and Europe and their concept of healthy living to Macao. Cultural performances and lucky draw continued to be held today (23 July) at the Fair to build up a carnival atmosphere in the event. Activities for tomorrow (24 July)
The Fair will continue to be open to the public tomorrow. Opening hours are: 11am to 10pm for 24 July (tomorrow), 11am to 8pm for 25 July (Sunday). Eight product presentations and agreement signing ceremonies will be held tomorrow. The Cultural shows will be on from 1pm-9pm, whereas the lucky draw will be conducted from 5.30pm-6pm with prizes including air tickets and a television. All are welcomed to join in. The organizer welcomes trade visitors/exhibitors/Macao residents/tourists to take part in this year’s event between Guangdong and Macao to enjoy the pleasure of the Carnival. For more information about the Guangdong and Macao Branded Products Fair 2010, please call our hotline at: +853-87989788 or visit our website at http://www.guangdongmacaofair.com
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With the objective of testing and assessing the efficiency of the Airport Emergency Plan, the government bodies and the aviation operators involved in airport security jointly conducted the “Bomb Threat Exercise 2010” which simulated the activation of the Airport Emergency Plan and the security contingency procedures in response to a bomb threat that occurred in the passenger terminal of the airport. About 100 people participated in the exercise which was deemed smooth. The exercise took place from 02:00 to 05:30 this morning. The scenario simulated a suspect baggage being found in the departures hall of the passenger terminal of Macau International Airport. Upon being notified of the incident, the police on duty and the airport security guards reported it to their superior. After the police forces have assessed the incident, an emergency was declared. The Airport Emergency Operations Centre and the security contingency procedures of the police forces were immediately activated. The site was cordoned off; a thorough inspection was done on the whole airport area where the police and the airport security guards found another suspect bomb in the car park. The special police were called in to inspect the two objects who confirmed that one of them was a genuine bomb. The bomb was then detonated. Conducted in accordance with the work schedule approved in the beginning of this year by the Facilitation and Security Committee, the exercise was coordinated by Public Security Police Force, Unitary Police Force, Macao Customs Services, Judiciary Police, Fire Services Bureau, Security Coordination Office, Health Bureau, Maritime Administration, Civil Aviation Authority, CAM-Macau International Airport Company Ltd, Administration of Airports, Ltd., Macau Security Company Ltd. (airport security), Menzies Macau Airport Services Ltd and Air Macau Company Ltd. Exercises are carried out every year in Macau International Airport with the objective of testing and assessing the effectiveness of the Airport Emergency Plan and the capacity of the participating entities on command and control, coordination, communication, resource allocation and so on when facing contingencies, so that the participants can further improve themselves in recognizing and dealing with aviation security emergencies, therefore ensuring the compliance of our security services with the Standards and Recommended Practices of International Civil Aviation Organization and guaranteeing Macao as a safe and secure air hub in the world.
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