[2019/05/26] IIICF Builds Platform for Enterprises to Expand Businesses

The 10^th International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum (IIICF) will be held in Macao from May 30 to 31. After nine years of growth, the IIICF has built itself into an annual industrial gala on the international stage. Some enterprises consider the statistics and analysis released during the IIICF beneficial to them in terms of maintaining competitive and “going global” as encouraged by the country’s policies. Some companies consider IIICF an effective platform for networking with their counterparts and obtaining first-hand market information, and that the international position of the IIICF has helped private companies expand businesses in overseas regions.

Over the past nine years, the IIICF enabled the signing of more than 90 co-operation agreements, part of which have been put into action. According to Mr Chan from a construction and building material company in Macao, the IIICF has been a significant event for his company. Since their first participation in the IIICF in 2013, Mr Chan’s company entered into collaborations in building more than 35,000 apartments in Mozambique, and co-operation with building materials supplier in Mainland China. In addition, his company initiated a bilateral meeting with a Mozambican electricity company during last year’s IIICF, paving path for collaboration in energy.

Ms Iao, representative of energy and construction investment company, will be participating in the IIICF for the third time this year. She opined that joining the IIICF can improve communication with other industrial players and increase chances of solving financing problems, as the Forum gathers leading enterprises and international financial giants. She also speaks highly of the thematic forums and sharing sessions held during the IIICF, which keep her company and relevant industries updated to the latest trends of the market.

Headquartered in China, Ms Iao’s company established its Macao branch in 2016 with a view to tap into overseas market by utilising Macao’s unique advantages. The participation in the IIICF is a significant steppingstone for her company. At last year’s IIICF, the company reached co-operation with a Macao tertiary education institute on study into smart city. They are now collaboratively conducting the research and applying for relevant patents.

Enterprises See Bright Future in Macao’s Green Financial Industry

According to Mr Zheng, representative of a non-profit organisation engaging in urban development, his organisation inked a memorandum of understanding on Macao green financial co-operation with an international trade company, an international non-profit-making investing organisation and the Macao SAR Government. The implementation is continuing in an orderly manner. He is also gratified to know that the “Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area” expressly supports Macao’s construction of a green financial platform. He believes that there is a considerable room for development in this domain.

Mr Zheng also considers IIICF an ideal occasion for building contacts since there are a lot of corporate participants, including those with broad international recognition. At present, partnering enterprises of Mr Zheng’s company are focusing on government risk insurance, green infrastructure certification and green bonds. It is believed that this series of services will provide better financing and management services for enterprises intending to expand business on the “Belt and Road” and in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. As the 10^th IIICF will soon be held, Mr Zheng is taking the initiative and looking for more co-operation opportunities.