Secretary for Economy and Finance Francis Tam today (Feb 10) said that the main tasks for the government in economy area this year were to implement CEPA and the Zhuhai-Macao Industrial Zone project.

Secretary Tam led a delegation of two hundreds representatives from chambers and government to attend a promotion for CEPA in Guangzhou.

Before his departure, Francis Tam said that the huge size of the delegation represented the strong will of Macao¡¦s business sectors to cooperate with Guangdong under the framework of CEPA.

It was encouraging to notice that the business sectors were preparing to capitalize the trade pact, he said, adding that the government would focus on promoting the implementation of CEPA this year.

He revealed that experts from the Ministry of Commerce would hold seminar about merchandise trade in Macao later this month.

He also expected to meet Governor Huang Huahua and Executive Vice Governor Tang Bingquan during the event.

Speaking about the spread of avian flu in neighboring countries and regions, Francis Tam stressed that the government would pay attention to the epidemic.

Note : Since the official languages in Macao SAR are Chinese and Portuguese, press releases in English are for reference purpose only; please refer to the Chinese or Portuguese releases in case of ambiguity.

Chief Executive Edmund Ho said that the Central Government's support to the SAR had realized the advantage of the "One Country Two Systems" policy.

Mr. Ho today (16 Jan.) attended the spring reception organized by the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the MSAR and made the remark in his speech.

He said that the implementation of CEPA and the facilitated travel policy had opened up an enormous market for Macao.

"Since the establishment of MSAR, the Central Government has been granting supports and assistances that strengthen the cooperation between Macao and Mainland," said Mr. Ho. He also noted the contribution of the Liaison Office in the Macao-Mainland cooperation, adding that the SAR Government would continue to work closely with the Liaison Office.

Note : Since the official languages in Macao SAR are Chinese and Portuguese, press releases in English are for reference purpose only; please refer to the Chinese or Portuguese releases in case of ambiguity.

The first meeting of Joint Steering Committee of Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) chaired by the Vice Minister of Commerce, An Min and the Secretary of Finance and Economy of Macao SAR, Francis Tam, was held today (29 Dec.) in Beijing.

Agendas set for the meeting include preparatory works for the implementation of CEPA, possible disputes during the implementation, trade, service and investment facilitations, and projects for next year.

During the meeting, Francis Tam said that the stimulation of CEPA had attracted foreign investors to seek business opportunities in Macao, as gross domestic product grown significantly and tourist arrivals set a high record.

The establishment of Joint Steering Committee provided a mechanism to secure the smooth implementation of CEPA from 1 January 2004, said the Secretary, and both sides, through the Committee will continue to strengthen communication and make necessary supplement to the content of CEPA.

The Vice Minister said that CEPA allowed the boost of economy and economic integration between Mainland and Macao, in order to face the challenge of globalizational and regional economic cooperation.

The Central Government prioritized the follow up on the arrangement, An Min reiterated, adding that the State Council had designated the Ministry of Commerce to take up the responsibility to coordinate with different departments.

An Min and Francis Tam attended a press conference and answered questions after the meeting.

The two governments held five meetings to negotiate the details of implementation of CEPA in Beijing and Macao since 20 June.

The Vice-President Zeng Qinghong and the Chief Executive, Edmund Ho presided over the signing of CEPA on 17 October by An Min and Francis Tam at Government House on 17 October.

Note : Since the official languages in Macao SAR are Chinese and Portuguese, press releases in English are for reference purpose only; please refer to the Chinese or Portuguese releases in case of ambiguity.

Secretary for Economy and Finance, Francis Tam headed an official delegation to Beijing today (28 Dec.) for the first meeting of Joint Steering Committee of Mainland and Macao Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA).

The meeting is jointly chaired by the Vice Minister of Commerce, An Min and Francis Tam.

The Secretary told the media before his departure that main discussion would be overall coordination of the CEPA after its implementation on 1st January 2004.

Opinions from the business sector regarding trade and investment facilitation, recognition on professional qualifications would also be fully voiced during the meeting, said Francis Tam.

The authorities would launch series of CEPA promotional campaigns to the business sectors soon, added the Secretary.

When asked about the possible disputes might arise during the implementation of CEPA, Mr. Tam responded that problems would be minimized with ample preparations and close cooperation with Mainland.

Note : Since the official languages in Macao SAR are Chinese and Portuguese, press releases in English are for reference purpose only; please refer to the Chinese or Portuguese releases in case of ambiguity.

Vice-President Zeng Qinghong and the Chief Executive, Edmund Ho, today (June 29) presided over the signing of the Mainland and Macao Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA).

Vice-minister of the Ministry of Commerce, An Min, representing the Central People's Government and the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Francis Tam, representing the Macao Special Administrative Region Government, signed the CEPA at a ceremony held at Government House today.

The signing of the Arrangement marked the conclusion of the consultations, which were launched at 20 June this year in Beijing, after a similar arrangement between the Mainland and the Hong Kong SAR was decided.

Five rounds of Consultations had been held in Beijing and Macao since then.

An Min and Francis Tam hosted a press conference after the signing ceremony to explain the arrangement to the press.

Note : Since the official languages in Macao SAR are Chinese and Portuguese, press releases in English are for reference purpose only; please refer to the Chinese or Portuguese releases in case of ambiguity.

Consultation on the Mainland and Macao Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) completed today after five rounds of meeting.

The Vice-Minister of Commerce, An Min and the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Francis Tam agreed on the arrangement after reviewed the final version of the agreement and its appendix at a high-level meeting today.

The six annexes of the arrangement were also approved in the meeting today. The six annexes are: Arrangements for Implementation of Zero Tariff for Trade in Goods; Rules of Origin for Trade in Goods; Procedures for the Issuing and Verification of Certificates of Origin; Specific Commitments on Liberalization of Trade in Services and Definition of "Service Supplier" and Related Requirements.

Under the arrangement, the Mainland and Macao will form a closer partnership in three major areas of trade in goods; trade in services and trade and investment facilitation.

The Arrangement will be signed tomorrow at the presence of a state leader.

The consultation over CEPA started at 20 June this year at a meeting held in Beijing between officials of the Central Government and Macao SAR Government.

Note : Since the official languages in Macao SAR are Chinese and Portuguese, press releases in English are for reference purpose only; please refer to the Chinese or Portuguese releases in case of ambiguity.

The Mainland and Macao Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) will be signed at 17 Oct 2003, in the presence of a state leader.

The Secretary of Economy and Finance, Francis Tam and the Vice-Minister of Commerce, An Min will sign the arrangement on behalf of the Macao SAR Government and the Central Government respectively.

The state leader will pay a brief visit to the Macao SAR after hosting the signing ceremony.

Note : Since the official languages in Macao SAR are Chinese and Portuguese, press releases in English are for reference purpose only; please refer to the Chinese or Portuguese releases in case of ambiguity.

The fourth meeting of CEPA between Macao and the Mainland closed today (19 Sept) with significant consensus.

Both sides are pursuing to wrap up the negotiation in October and implement the agreement at the beginning of next year.

Regarding to the section of trade in services, representatives of two sides discussed the extent of liberalization in 18 markets, the definition of service providers and the entry conditions of those markets.

Respectively, the 18 markets are management consulting services, convention and exhibition services, advertising services, accounting services, construction and real estate, medical and dental services, distribution services, logistics services, freight forwarding agency services, storage and warehousing services, transport services, tourism services, audiovisual services, legal services, banking, securities, insurance and telecommunication.

In the section of trade in merchandise, they discussed the mechanism to issue the certificate of origin.

They also discussed how to facilitate trade and investment.

Note : Since the official languages in Macao SAR are Chinese and Portuguese, press releases in English are for reference purpose only; please refer to the Chinese or Portuguese releases in case of ambiguity.

The third meeting for CEPA between Macao and the Mainland was held on 4-5 September in Beijing. Francis Tam, the Secretary for Economy and Finance, led a delegation to attend the meeting.

Both sides agreed the themes and principles for the discussions of services trade and facilitation of trading and investment.

They also continued the discussion in the section of merchandises trade and started to negotiate for the details of services trade and facilitation of trading and investment.

Both sides are trying to finish the discussion in September, in order to sign the trade pact in October and implement the agreement at the beginning of next year.

Note : Since the official languages in Macao SAR are Chinese and Portuguese, press releases in English are for reference purpose only; please refer to the Chinese or Portuguese releases in case of ambiguity

The Secretary for Economy and Finance led a delegation to Beijing today (2 September) to meet with the officials of Ministry of Commerce.

The delegation would participate the third organizing meeting of the First Economic and Trade Co-operation Forum between China and the Portuguese-Speaking Countries and the third conference for CEPA between the Mainland and Macao.

In an interview before departure, Secretary Tam said the government had been accelerating the preparation of CEPA as the agreement was set to implement in the beginning of next year.

He estimated that the framework of the agreement would be set in this meeting and discussions of three sections of the agreement, namely the trade of merchandise, services, and the facilitation of trade and investment, would be intensified.

In addition, Francis Tam said the preparation of the First Economic Cooperation Forum between China and the Portuguese-Speaking Countries was on the right track.

The Forum is scheduled for 12 to 14 October in Macao.

Note : Since the official languages in Macao SAR are Chinese and Portuguese, press releases in English are for reference purpose only; please refer to the Chinese or Portuguese releases in case of ambiguity

The second Round of the meeting on the Mainland and Macao Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) was completed today (25 July) in Macao.

During the meeting, both parties shared ideas and agreed to exchange information in the near future, in order to prompt the discussion on merchandise trade arrangement.

The MSAR Government had consulted representatives of the business sectors before submitting some relevant information to the Mainland delegation.

After the meeting, the participants visited the Lotus Bridge Checkpoint to see how merchandise were handled.

In the afternoon, they visited several factories to understand the present situation and prospect of Macao's industry.

Both sides wish to start the negotiation on services trade and the facilitation of trade and investment in the near future, in order to finish the negotiation within 2003 and implement CEPA at the beginning of 2004.

The MSAR Government is keen to utilize the advantages of CEPA to boost the overall economic performance and diversify the industrial structure of Macao.

Note : Since the official languages in Macao SAR are Chinese and Portuguese, press releases in English are for reference purpose only; please refer to the Chinese or Portuguese releases in case of ambiguity

Negotiation on the Mainland and Macao Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) will continue in Macao on 24 and 25 July.

The both sides will concentrate firstly on technical issues in merchandise trade before moving on to trade in services and facilitation of trade and investment.

The first round meeting was held in Beijing on 20 June with the Vice Minister of Commerce, An Min and the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Francis Tam representing the two sides.

Both sides hoped to finish negotiations this year and to implement the CEPA on 1 January next year as Hong Kong would.

As for the second round meeting, the Mainland delegation will be headed by Wang Liaoping, the Director of Department of Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao Affairs, Ministry of Commerce.

Members will include officials of Ministry of Commerce, Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, Ministry of Finance, General Administration of Customs, National Development and Reform Commission and Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the MASR.

The delegation of MSAR will be headed by Lok Kit Sim, the Chief-of-Office of the Secretary for Economy and Finance, and will be comprised of representatives of the Finance Services Bureau, Macao Customs Services and Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute.

Note : Since the official languages in Macao SAR are Chinese and Portuguese, press releases in English are for reference purpose only; please refer to the Chinese or Portuguese releases in case of ambiguity.

Secretary for Economic and Finance Francis Tam said today (3 July) that the authority was keenly listening to the public opinions on Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA), hoping to prepare well for the next meeting to be held in mid of this month.

Mr Tam revealed that the meeting would focus on technical issues and concrete items to be included in the CEPA. He said in accordance to the agenda, arrangement to promote merchandize and service trade, and investment would be discussed.

The Secretary said that the authority had met with the representatives from several business and manufacture associations a week before, listened widely to their opinions and thus to facilitate the negotiation.

Mr Tam said that the authority would endeavor to complete the entire negotiation within three to four months, in order to implement the CEPA on 1 January next year as Hong Kong would. He said that in the following months, the authority would provide the latest information to the public hoping that the public would provide constructive suggestions and advises in return.

He also said that the CEPA between Mainland and Hong Kong was merely a blueprint for Macao, and the authority would reflect the opinions and ideas based on Macao's reality.

The Macao SAR Government and the Ministry of Commerce started the negotiation for CEPA on 20 June in Beijing.

Note : Since the official languages in Macao SAR are Chinese and Portuguese, press releases in English are for reference purpose only; please refer to the Chinese or Portuguese releases in case of ambiguity.

Officials of Central Government and Macao SAR began negotiation for Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) today (20 June) in Beijing, hoping for a simultaneous implementation with CEPA between Mainland and Hong Kong.

The negotiation was carried out between the Ministry of Commerce and the Macao SAR Government, under the permission of the State Council. The Vice Minister of Commerce, An Min and the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Francis Tam represented the two sides.

During the Meeting, both Sides agreed to strive for a completion of the negotiation within this year and to have the CEPA implemented next year, simultaneously with the CEPA with Hong Kong.

The arrangement will have the characteristics of a free trade zone, and at the same time a form of economic cooperation between a state and an independent tariff region under its administration, allowing easier procedures for trades of merchandizes and services and investments.

During the meeting today, the two sides discussed the content of the arrangement and the principle and mechanism of the negotiation.

The two sides agreed that the arrangement should comply with the one country two Systems principle and the regulations of the WTO. They also agreed to take reference from the CEPA with Hong Kong with adjustment according to the realities of trades between Macao and the Mainland.

The two sides expected that the CEPA would further promote the developing economy and trade relation between Macao and the Mainland, and would steer the relation toward a wider scope and a higher level.

Francis Tam said after the meeting that the CEPA would exert a profound influence on Macao's long-term economic development. A wider horizon would be opened to Macao's enterprises when developing the Mainland market and the CEPA would be a positive drive for the SAR Government's policy to diversify the economic structure.

It is a reflection of the Central Government's support to Macao¡¦s development and prosperity, said Mr. Tam.

He said the CEPA would allow the two sides to complement each other more closely in resources and advantages and Macao SAR would approach the negotiation with a positive, serious and realistic attitude with its Mainland counterparts.

The second round of negotiation is scheduled to be held in Macao in July.

Note : Since the official languages in Macao SAR are Chinese and Portuguese, press releases in English are for reference purpose only; please refer to the Chinese or Portuguese releases in case of ambiguity.

Secretary for Economy and Finance Francis Tam will lead a delegation to Beijing on Thursday (Jun 19), attending meetings for the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) between Macao and the Mainland.

The delegation will meet officials of the Ministry of Commerce on Jun 20. They will exchange views on the principles, content of the arrangement and timetable for its implementation.

Francis Tam said today (Jun 17) that Hong Kong and the Mainland had finished discussion on the trade pact and were set to sign the agreement on Jun 30 and it would come into effect at the beginning of 2004.

Taking the example of Hong Kong, MSAR Government looked forward to completing the discussions this year and to implement the trade pact at the same time as Hong Kong would, Francis Tam remarked.

The delegation will include officials from Office of the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Economic Services Bureau, Monetary Authority and Trade and Investment Promotion Institute.

They will return to Macao on Jun 21.