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This Issue’s Topical Story

The 22nd MIF and 2017 PLPEX conclude successfully

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The “22nd Macao International Trade and Investment Fair” (22nd MIF) and “2017 Portuguese-speaking Countries Products and Services Exhibition (Macao)” (2017 PLPEX) were held concurrently from 19th to 21st October 2017 at the Venetian Macao. During the three-day events, a total of 67 agreements were signed, covering co-operation between governments and associations and other areas of collaboration such as agriculture, tourism, sport, education, network promotion, product manufacturing, agency and repackaging, high technology, trade of food products and brand co-operation. Pre-arranged on-site buyers conducted a total of 389 matching sessions in the Business Matching Area.

Officiating guests at the opening ceremony of 22nd MIF and 2017 PLPEX included: Chief Executive of Macao SAR Chui Sai On, Deputy Director-General of Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in Macao SAR Yao Jian, Acting Commissioner of Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China Wang Dong, Governor of Niassa of Mozambique Arlindo Chilundo, President of Legislative Assembly of Macao SAR Ho Iat Seng, Deputy Minister of State of Ministry Commerce of Cambodia OUK Prachea, Secretary of Regional Planning and Integration of Guinea Bissau José Biai, Secretary of State for Internalisation of Portugal Eurico Brilhante Dias, Vice Governor of Jiangsu Provincial People’s Government Chen Zhenning, Party / CPC Core Group Member of the People’s Government of Guangdong Province Chen Yunxian, Secretary for Economy and Finance of Macao SAR Leong Vai Tac, Vice-Chairman of the All-China Federation of Industry & Commerce Su Zhi Gang, Head of Delegation of Partner Country Angola and Ambassador of Angola in China João Garcia Bires, on behalf of José da Silva Gonçalves, Minister of Economy and Employment of Cape Verde, Ambassador of Cape Verde in China Tânia Romualdo, Vice-President of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Zhang Wei, President of Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute Jackson Chang, Secretary-General of Permanent Secretariat of Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao) Xu Yingzhen, President of Cantagalo District Chamber of São Tomé and Príncipe Paulo Jorge de Carvalho, Ambassador of Guinea-Bissau in China Malam Sambu, Ambassador of Portugal in China Jorge Torres-Pereira, Ambassador of Timor Leste in China Bendito Freitas, Minister Counsellor of Embassy of the Republic of Mozambique in China António Rodrigues José, Director of the Economic Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR Liu Bin, Advisor to President for Economy and Finance and Diplomat of São Tomé and Príncipe Engrácio do Sacramento Soares da Graça, and Head of Trade and Investment Promotion Section of Embassy of Brazil in China Igor Carneiro.

Guests officiating over the 22nd MIF opening ceremony

Officiating guests at the 2017 PLPEX opening ceremony

The concurrent hosting of MIF and PLPEX generated a cumulative effect

This year, enterprises from over 50 countries and regions participated in MIF, with more than 1,500 booths, and for the first time, PLPEX was held as separate event, attracting over 210 enterprises and institutes to participate. The two concurrent events conducted a total of 45 activities including forums, seminars and presentations. In addition, MIF, this year, had specially invited Angola and Guangdong as its “Partner Country” and “Partner Province” respectively and set up thematic pavilions.

Organised by Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) and co-organised by 15 economic and trade institutions and business associations from Macao, the Mainland and Hong Kong, MIF was, once again, themed “Co-operation – Key to Business Opportunities”, with a total area similar to last year. Pavilions have been set up in respect of showcasing countries and regions, in particular for the provinces and regions from the Pan-Pearl River Delta (PPRD), Portuguese-speaking Countries, and countries along the “Belt and Road”, as well as a diverse array of themed product zones and industry exhibition areas, covering the “Belt and Road” initiative, “Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Construction”, “Platform between Mainland China and Portuguese-speaking Countries”, “Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs)”, “Cultural and Creative Industry”, “Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Industry”, “Youth Entrepreneurship”, and “E-commerce”. MIF and PLPEX were held concurrently to generate a cumulative effect and achieve significant results and wide acclaim from participating merchants and residents.

SMEs Pavilion a favourite with residents

Deepening regional co-operation for exploring SMEs business opportunities

With a view to further capitalising on the advantage of the platform and reinforcing the theme of “Belt and Road” and regional economic and trade co-operation, MIF and PLPEX successfully held a number of associated activities, including “Angola, Guangdong and Macao Trade and Investment Forum”, “Cambodia Trade, Investment & Tourism Development Forum”, “The 7th Jiangsu – Macau • Portuguese-speaking Countries Business Forum”, “Fujian, Macao and Portuguese-speaking Countries Economic Exchange Networking Session”, “14th World Summit of Chinese Entrepreneurs’, “Lecture: How to Assist Portuguese-speaking Countries’ Products enter the Chinese Market” and “China and Portuguese-speaking Countries SMEs Investment and Trade Matchmaking Event”, to promote exchanges and communication between all parties and business and trade networking and collaboration between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, assist enterprises to “go global” and explore markets in countries and regions along the “Belt and Road”, increase multi-lateral economic and trade flow, and provide local enterprises and young people with more opportunities for co-operation and development. Furthermore, other captivating programmes, such as PSC Fashion Show, Portuguese-speaking Countries Art piece Showcase, and Cultural Music/Dance Performance also caught the attention of many participants and residents staying to enjoy the performance.

This year, “MACAO MICE PASS” had been newly introduced for the first time and designated as a trial that was implemented by government departments, leaders and representatives of MIF co-organisers in order to promote the development of green exhibition and reduce the waste use of resources.

To bring Macao’s role as a Commercial and Trade Co-operation Service Platform between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries into full play and promote Macao’s moderate economic diversification, IPIM organised business people participating in MIF and PLPEX to visit a number of outdoor and indoor MICE facilities in Macao and the Portuguese-speaking Countries Food Products Exhibition Centre in order for them to gain a better understanding of the strength of Macao’s MICE industry in terms of hardware and software and the positioning of Macao’s role as a Commercial and Trade Co-operation Service Platform between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries and boost the community economy of Macao through the guided tour. Furthermore, IPIM also arranged a field trip to Zhuhai and Zhongshan for businesspeople from Portuguese-speaking Countries from 22 to 24 October to deepen their understanding of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area as well as to reinforce exchanges between enterprises from different places.

The 23rd MIF and 2018 PLPEX are scheduled to take place from 18 to 20 October 2018.