This Issue’s Topical Story

The 23^rd‭ ‬MIF and the 2018‭ ‬PLPEX Successfully Concludes

The “23^rd Macao International Trade and Investment Fair” (23^rd MIF) and the “2018 Portuguese Speaking Countries Products and Services Exhibition (Macao)” (2018 PLPEX) were held with great success from 18 to 20 October. During the three-day events, a total of 75 agreements were signed in the Signing Centre, covering co-operation between governments and associations, MICE, cross-border e-commerce, tourism, cultural and creative industries, agriculture, environmental protection technologies, talent development, research into healthcare big data, and product manufacturing, promotion and agency. In addition, over 400 matching sessions were held in the Business Matching Area.

The two exhibitions served as platforms for product promotion and exhibition as well as for communication and exchange among companies from Macao, Mainland China, Portuguese-speaking Countries, countries and regions along the Belt and Road, and other regions across the world, to support their efforts to “go global” and “bring in investment” and broaden the space for development. The events also demonstrated the vitality of Macao’s diversified economic growth. Over 30 forums, conferences and promotion sessions were held during the 23^rd MIF and the 2018 PLPEX. This year’s MIF invited Mozambique and Fujian Province as its “Partner Country” and “Partner Province”, each with a themed pavilion.

Diversified by Innovative Elements

This year’s MIF inherited the theme “Co-operation-Key to Business Opportunities”. It covered an area of 24,000 square metres, with more than 1,500 booths. In addition, the exhibition area of the 2018 PLPEX increased to over 6,000 square metres, attracting companies from the eight Portuguese-speaking Countries, as well as PSC products and services agents from Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao.

This year, the two exhibitions were enhanced with new elements. A number of themed exhibition areas were set up for the first time including the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Business Zone, the Guizhou Congjiang Pavilion, the Smart Zone, the Youth Entrepreneurship Pavilion, the Featured Finance Pavilion, the Brazil Unmanned Shop Experience Zone (Brazil Center), and the China-PSC E-commerce Experience Pavilion. At the same time, the “8^th Asian Trade Promotion Forum (ATPF) Joint Exhibition” was held in parallel with the 23^rd MIF. Representatives of the trade promotion organisations of ATPF were brought together to create an effective exchange and matching platform for companies and trade promotion institutions at home and abroad. Electric payment methods such as Macao Pass, MPay and Alipay, were introduced in the SME zone, in addition to traditional payment methods like cash and credit card.

This year, the two exhibitions aimed to help enterprises integrate themselves into the “Belt and Road” development, seize opportunities arising from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and bring in more business opportunities by taking advantage of Macao’s role as a platform between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries. Activities held during the two exhibitions included the “Mozambique-Fujian-Macao Trade and Investment Forum”, the “8^th Jiangsu-Macao • Portuguese-speaking Countries Business Forum”, the “15^th World Summit of Chinese Entrepreneurs”, and the “4^th Young Entrepreneurs Forum of China and Portuguese-speaking Countries”. These activities greatly expanded the knowledge and exchanges of the latest information and promoted commercial and trade co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, delivering more opportunities for co-operation and development to companies.

During the event, the organiser also arranged visits to the Macau Brand Incubation Center and local communities for exhibitors, allowing them to have deeper understanding of Macao’s entrepreneurship environment. The visits also served as a platform for youth entrepreneurship and business start-up project, bringing in more opportunities for collaboration and investment while boosting the development of local community economy.

The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Business Zone helps enterprises to grasp opportunities

The well-received SME Exhibition Area

Many enterprisers are attracted by the Brazil Unmanned Shop Experience Zone (Brazil Center)

The “Smart Zone” gathers innovative and distinctive products and service

Enterprises established by young entrepreneurs show off their strengths at the Youth Entrepreneurship Pavilion

Many companies successfully reached collaboration opportunities at the business matching area