Intensifying Regional Co-operation and Reinforcing Role as International Trade and Economic Service Platform – Successful Completion of the 16th Macao International Trade and Investment Fair (MIF)

The 16th Macao International Trade and Investment Fair (MIF), one of the most important annual international economic and trade event in Macao, was successfully held at the Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel from 20 to 23 October. Officiating guests at the Opening Ceremony included Chui Sai On, Chief Executive of Macao SAR, Bai Zhijian, Director General of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR, Zhou Bo, Deputy Director of Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Helena Nosolini Embaló, Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Integration, Guinea-Bissau, João Mendes Gonçalves, Minister of Economy and Development of East Timor, Hu Zhengyue, Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Macao SAR, Zhang Weiguo, Vice Governor of the People’s Government of Jiangsu Province, Hua Jianhui, Vice Governor of the People’s Government of Anhui Province,Li Rui, Vice Governor of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Ye Shuangyu, Vice Governor of the People’s Government of Fujian Province, Hong Lihe, Vice Governor of the People’s Government of Jiangxi Province, Xiao Yayu, Deputy Director of Hunan Provincial People’s Congress Standing Committee, Tam Pak Yuen, Secretary for Economy and Finance of the Macao SAR, Yu Ping, Vice chairman of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), Liu Zhiqiang,Vice Chairman of All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, Tang Bingquan, Vice Chairman of Guangdong Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Fang Xiaofang, Vice Chairman of Sichuan Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference,Zhao Jie, Representative of the Vice Governor of the People’s Government of Heilongjiang Province, and Jackson Chang, President of Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute.

The theme of the event was “Co-operation– Key to Business Opportunities”, with the objective of making full use of Macao’s unique multi-cultural background and its role as a regional trade and economic service platform,to further promote economic co-operation between local and Mainland enterprises, as well as those between Macao and Portuguesespeaking countries (PSCs). Over 95,000 visited the 16th MIF a 17% increase over last year. The“Convention and Exhibition Through Train Service” and “Overseas Trade Visitors Incentive Plan” registered over 5,700 participating professional trade visitors. Over the four days,1,502 business matching sessions were arranged up 30.5% year for year, comprised by 800 sessions of project making, 485 sessions of purchasing matching, 217 sessions of specialised trade matching, resulting in the signing of 81 protocols, an increase of 30.65%. A total of 47 forums, conferences, seminars and presentations were held and participated in by over 7,000 people.

Macau Creative Pavilion	Portuguese-speaking Countries Pavilion	Macao SME Exhibition Hall

INTENSIFYING REGIONAL CO-OPERATION

MIF is one of Macao’s major convention and exhibition events which aims to promote interactive bilateral trade and investment and encourage enterprises’ co-operation through exhibitions, forums and conferences, business-matching as well as merchandising negotiations.

To highlight the focus on regional co-operation this year, the organisers improved the content and level of professional services provided. The size of this year’s MIF was 18% larger than last year. There were altogether 850 local and overseas exhibitors from more than 60 countries and regions exhibiting their wares in 1,650 booths. Not only did the size of the exhibition expand but there were more first time exhibitors like those from Kenya, Korea and Nepal as well as debutants from some provinces on the Mainland like Anhui and Jiangxi. There was a more diverse array of items on display covering a wider variety of products, resulting in a more international, professional and market-orientated exhibition.

Cultural and creative themed exhibition areas have further increased, with exhibitors coming from more regions were the highlights of this year’s MIF. The areas for cultural and creative industry and fashion have become a platform for collaborating and networking between related projects in the cultural and creative industry,designers/designing firms, companies of various brands, and garment manufacturers. The size of the area that houses the various themes pavilions has grown as more industries showcasing a wide range of products have become involved, all contributing to the increased interest by the international market and professional visitors.

ENHANCING SERVICES TO FOSTER MULTI-FACETED BUSINESS MATCHING

To improve its role as a business and trade service platform, the 16th MIF provided a wide range of free business matching services (covering purchasing negotiation, franchising and chain operation,brand agency). An online business matching service was also available to provide an integrated matching service for pavilions, special arragements and delegations to enhance overall effectiveness. At the same time, this year’s MIF focused on inviting buyers, renowned enterprises and business visitors, negotiation sessions were arranged to enhance the results of business matching and project discussions.

The 16th MIF set up new prestigious buyers counters for leading hotels in Macao, these hotels had their purchasing managers and representatives stationed at MIF to have purchasing meetings with local and overseas trade visitors. Business-matching cocktail receptions were also organised for the first time this year focusing on various industries including food and wines, cultural and creative, small home appliances as well as mahogany furniture. The receptions provided opportunities for networking and business negotiations as well as creating new business openings for exhibitors and buyers in related trades. A series of privilege professional support services and professional visitors participation schemes were introduced during MIF to encourage business deals.

The number of business matching sessions and signed projects were increased by 30% when compared to those of last year. The main industries concerned in the signed projects included tourism,cultural and creative areas, convention and exhibition, information technology, manufacturing, chemical industry, heavy industry, real estate, trade and commerce, human resources co-operation, Chinese medicine, environmental protection, product distributorship, health products, animal husbandry, food processing, and friendly co-operation between governments and trade associations. The signatories mainly come from Macao (49.01%), Mainland China (39.74%), Hong Kong (5.96%), Taiwan and Portugal (1.32%), Switzerland (0.66%) and Canada (0.66%).

FORUMS AND CONFERENCES ENCOURAGED TRADE AND ECONOMIC NETWORKING AND COMMUNICATIONS

Guest speakers at the various forums and conferences of the 16th MIF included government officials, entrepreneurial leaders, various trade managers, experts with the professional level and networking effectiveness constantly enhanced. The “International Trade and Investment Forum 2011” invited local and overseas government representatives and business leaders to explore regional trade and economic investment co-operation.The “8th World Summit of Chinese Entrepreneurs” attracted over 1,400 chinese entrepreneurs from around the world.

Seminars, presentations and activities were organised in line with the contents of the exhibition, including “Hengqin New Area Investment Environment and Policy Innovations Promotion”, “Nansha New Area Investment Environment Seminar”, and the “Luxury of Hongmu (Mahogany) Furniture Development International Forum”, in an effort to promote economy and trade exchanges and co-operation between enterprises from Macao and Mainland China with overseas enterprises,especially those of the Portuguese-speaking countries, to further consolidate Macao’s function as a regional trade and business service platform.

Networking conferences such as the “Portuguese-Speaking Countries-Fujian-Macao Trade and Economic Exchange Activities”, “Beijing-Macao-EU Cultural and Creative Industry Co-operation and Promotion Meeting” and “Jiangsu-Macao-Portuguese Speaking Countries Business Forum” were organised in relation to Macao’s role as a bridge in the collaboration and exchange between the three places. Bilateral meetings were held between Inner Mongolia and Macao as well as the EU and Macao to promote exchanges and co-operation between Macao and Mainland China and between Macao and other overseas countries. These activities resulted in the signing of numerous cross-regional co-operation documents involving a diverse number of industries. The event assisted Mainland enterprises to go global and explore international markets,particularly those in the EU and PSCs, and also assisted in inviting foreign investments and attracting overseas enterprises and investors to tap the Mainland market.

UPHOLD THE GROWTH OF SMES

This year’s MIF provided SMEs with the opportunity to collaborate,network, promote and explore business openings. Business organisations and enterprises from different countries and regions came to Macao to make use of the various networks, products, services and technology exchanges, to achieve greater potential for their business development.“The International SME Exhibition Areas” was well received, showcasing a variety of products and services and how to successfully explore Mainland and overseas markets. Other than local exhibitors, participants also come from Hong Kong, Mainland, Mozambique, Nepal, Taiwan,Thailand and Vietnam. A series of services and themed events were held during the “SME International Business Days”.

To conclude the business matching and agreements signed this year,MIF continued to serve local SMEs as part of its commitment to regional trade and business networking services and made use of the Macao’s platform to strengthen Macao’s moderate economic diversification through flexible and diverse business models, reinforce its role as a regional platform, enhance external economic exchanges, promote collaboration of the market of Mainland China with its counterparts in ASEAN, the EU and Portuguese-speaking countries.

SURVEY RECOGNITION OF THE MIF PLATFORM FURTHER ENHANCED

The Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities of the University of Macau was commissioned to conduct a survey at 16th Macao International Trade and Investment Fair. Of the 2,278 questionnaires answered, 728 were received from professional visitors, 517 from exhibitors, 896 from the general public and 137 from VIPs. Interviewees came from the Mainland (44.4%), Macao (34.6%), Hong Kong (7.1%) and the remaining 13.8% from over twenty different countries and regions.

Statistical data reveals that over 70% of the interviewed professional visitors held Macao’s role as a regional co-operation trade and economic service platform in high regard and generally recognised the function of the convention and exhibition industry in promoting Macao’s economy.Interviewed exhibitors agreed that MIF is beneficial to sales and the exploration of markets. Among which, nearly 90% said that MIF should encourage on-site SME product sales. Professional visitors and exhibitors that were interviewed were basically satisfied with the arrangements this year, of the 54.7% who also participated in last year’s MIF, 40.82% said that this year was well organised, while 47.58% said that the organisation of the two years are more or less the same. Among the general public that were interviewed, 30.2% said that publicity and promotion of the MIF should be strengthened, 83.9% expressed interest in taking part in the event next year. The VIPs have a higher recognition of Macao’s role as a trade and economic service platform between China and Portuguesespeaking countries.

MIF is making constant improvements to enhance its effectiveness.The 17th MIF will be held from 18 to 21 October 2012 and looks forward to receiving the support of the different sectors. It will focus on SAR Government’s orientation in economic development, and making full use of Macao’s unique role and strengths to seize business opportunities and explore more areas for further development.

China Provinces and Cities Pavilion	“Macao Fashion Festival 2011” fashion shows	Various Contracts were signed during MIF

Digital Imaging and Photography Equipment Pavilion	Opening ceremony of “Macao International Trade and Investment Forum 2011”	EU Pavilion