THE 5^TH MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE OF THE FORUM FOR ECONOMIC AND TRADE CO-OPERATION BETWEEN CHINA AND PORTUGUESE-SPEAKING COUNTRIES (MACAO) ENTREPRENEURS AND FINANCIERS MEETING

The signing of the China-Portuguese-speaking Countries Federation of Entrepreneurs witnessed by the various leaders

As part of the supporting activities of the 5th Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao), the Entrepreneurs and Financiers Meeting was held on 12 October. The event was attended by 12 ministerial officials of China and PSCs as well as around 900 participants. The Signing and Unveiling Ceremony of the China-Portuguese- speaking Countries Federation of Entrepreneurs was held concurrently.

Under the theme “Innovative Financial Services to Promote Production Capacity Co- operation between China and Portuguese- speaking Countries”, the event aimed to promote co-operation between enterprises between China and PSCs, as well as consolidating Macao’s role as a business co-operation and financial service platform between China and PSCs.

Various China and PSCs significant officials gave thematic speeches at the meeting, and the Signing and Unveiling Ceremony of the China-Portuguese- speaking Countries Federation of Entrepreneurs was organised by Mainland China, Macao and PSCs trade promotion organisations. The secretariat of the federation will be set up in Macao and aims at promoting networking and co-operation between enterprises in participating countries as well as highlighting Macao’s role as a platform between China and PSCs. During the meeting, 17 agreements were signed between China and PSCs, including a co-operation agreement signed between IPIM and the managing company of the China and Portuguese- speaking Countries Co-operation and Development Fund. Both sides will strengthen collaboration and provide facilitation measures for Macao enterprises applying for the China and Portuguese-speaking Countries Co-operation and Development Fund, such as referring Macao enterprises’ enquiries and providing pre-assessment of application documents, to support the development of the commercial and trade co-operation and financial service platform between China and PSCs.

Business matching sessions were organised in the afternoon on the same day with the participation of more than 50 organisations and enterprises from six PSCs and conducted project matching and negotiation with representatives from Mainland China and Macao enterprises. About 100 business matching session were conducted involving enterprises engaging in infrastructural facilities, nance, energy, technology, agriculture and trade. Presentation on projects between China and PSCs was also made by the representatives from China Council for the Promotion of International Trade enterprises, Zhoushan Municipal People’s Government, Tianjin- Macao International Trade Service Centre of China (Tianjin) Pilot Free Trade Zone.

BRIEFING SESSION ON THE INSPECTION, QUARANTINE AND TARIFF SYSTEM FOR THE IMPORT OF PORTUGUESE-SPEAKING COUNTRIES FOOD PRODUCTS TO THE MAINLAND PLUS SITE VISIT TO HENGQIN AND NANSHA

Site visit on the customs clearance facilities in Hengqin and Nansha

The Briefing Session on the Inspection, Quarantine and Tariff System for the Import of Portuguese-speaking Countries Food Products to the Mainland Plus Site Visit to Hengqin and Nansha, organised by the Inter-departmental Working Group on Food Product Distribution Centre for PSCs, was held on 1 and 2 September. The working group comprised of representatives from Macao Customs Service, Macao Economic Services, Financial Services Bureau, IPIM and the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau.

The Briefing Session was held on the first day and attracted more than 100 entrepreneurs and related personnel interested in or are currently engaging in the business as agent of PSCs food products. IPIM’s President Jackson Chang hoped that the activity will enable the participants to have clearer views of the procedures of the inspection and quarantine, customs clearance and tariff system for the import of PSCs food products to the Mainland through Macao, and further promote food trade between China and PSCs.

The briefing session focused on Macao’s development as a commercial and trade co-operation service platform between China and PSCs with the national support, the customs-related procedures for the import of PSCs food products to the Mainland through Macao such as the tariff system, customs clearance process, the required documentation and customs declaration information, as well as the case study on customs clearance. The briefing also covered the inspection and quarantine procedures for the import of PSCs food products to the Mainland through Macao, such as explaining on issues including the list of PSCs food products to be imported to the Mainland, the inspection and quarantine procedures, as well as the materials and requirements for declaration.

On 2 September, the working group organised nearly 60 entrepreneurs to conduct a site visit to Hengqin and Nansha.