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Opening ceremony of the 24th Macao International Trade & Investment Fair
The 24th Macao International Trade & Investment Fair and the 2019 Portuguese Speaking Countries Products and Services Exhibition (Macao) Conclude Successfully
The 24th Macao International Trade & Investment Fair (24th MIF) and the 2019 Portuguese Speaking Countries Products and Services Exhibition (Macao) (2019PLPEX) took place from 17 to 19 October at The Venetian Macao. Across the three days of events, 85 contracts were signed, and more than 400 negotiation sessions were conducted at the Business Matching Area. More than 70,000 visitors attended the two events in the three days, and the number of trade visitors increased by 10% compared with that of the previous year.
Officiating guests at the opening ceremony of the 24th MIF and the 2019PLPEX included: Mr Chui Sai On, Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR); Mr Fu Ziying, Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR; Mr Alexandre Monteiro, Minister of Industry, Trade and Energy of Cabo Verde; Ms Teresa Kok, Minister of Primary Industries of Malaysia; Ms Shen Beili, Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Macao SAR; Mr Kou Hoi In, President of the Legislative Assembly of Macao; Mr Guo Yuanqiang, Vice-Governor of the Jiangsu Provincial People’s Government; Mr Wang Shijie, Vice-Governor of Guizhou Provincial People’s Government; Mr Ji Guoqiang, the Standing Member of the Tiajin Communist Party of China (CPC) Municipal Committee and Director of the United Front Work Department of the CPC of Tianjin; Mr Mo Gongming, the Standing Member of the Chongqing CPC Municipal Committee and Secretary of the Wanzhou District Municipal Committee; Mr Leong Vai Tac, Secretary for Economy and Finance of the Macao SAR Government; Ms Xu Yingzhen, Secretary-General of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao); Mrs Irene Va Kuan Lau, President of the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute; Ms Tânia Romualdo, Ambassador of Cabo Verde to China; Mr João Salvados dos Santos Neto, Ambassador of Angola to China; Mr Malam Sambu, Ambassador of Guinea-Bissau to China; Ms Isabel Maya Jesus da Graça Domingos, Ambassador of São Tomé and Príncipe to China; Mr Bendito Freitas, Ambassador of Timor-Leste to China; Mr António Rodrigues José, Minister Counsellor of the Embassy of Mozambique in China; Mr Piragibe dos Santos Tarragô, Consul-General of Brazil to Macao and Hong Kong; and Mr Paulo Cunha Alves, Consul-General of Portugal in Macao and Hong Kong.
This year’s events were in alignment with national development policies, closely following the latest trends of international investment. These events contribute to building a platform for enterprises from China, countries and regions covered by the “Belt and Road” initiative, Portuguese-speaking Countries and even the rest of the world to engage in efficient promotional efforts, give displays, engage in exchanges, and co-operate. In addition to creating fresh business opportunities for enterprises, the events also fully demonstrated the vitality of Macao role’s as a Commercial and Trade Co-operation Service Platform between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries.
A number of agreement-signing ceremonies was arranged during the two fairs
The “16th World Chinese Business & Economic Summit” is held during the events
Opening ceremony of the 2019 Portuguese Speaking Countries Products and Services Exhibition (Macao)
Innovative Elements to Boost Attractiveness
Innovative elements were introduced to both of the three-day events, attracting a greater number of participants to the events than previously. Participants took advantage of the consultancy services offered at the venue. The 24th MIF carried the theme “Co-operation – Key to Business Opportunities” with an exhibition area of nearly 24,000 square metres and about 1,500 booths. Cabo Verde and Jiangsu Province were invited as, respectively, the “partner country” and “partner province” for MIF, each setting up a themed pavilion. MIF also featured for the first time the “Innotech and Startups Zone”, the “Cross-border New Retail Pavilion”, and the “Brazilian Products Pavilion”. Some trade and investment departments from Mainland Chinese provinces and municipalities also set up a pavilion respectively at this year’s MIF, and there was also a number of national/regional themed pavilions and special exhibition areas. These covered a wide range of sectors: domestic and overseas investment environments and projects; featured finance; food and wine; cultural and creative industries; smart technology; fashion design; healthcare services; e-commerce; and display areas for products from small and medium-sized enterprises, among other industries.
The 2019PLPEX covered an area of about 6,000 square metres and featured about 250 booths, attracting product and services agents from: eight Portuguese-speaking Countries; Mainland China; Hong Kong; and Macao. Exhibition categories included: food and beverage; e-commerce; information technology; daily necessities; handcraft products; construction materials; and sports goods. The China-Portuguese-speaking Countries Co-operation Retrospective Exhibition was set up for the first time at PLPEX, illustrating Macao’s role as a platform and bridge in promoting co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries.
Additionally, the event also featured the Macao and Portuguese-speaking Countries Commodity Hall Promotion Conference, a number of cultural performances from Portuguese-speaking Countries, and a Portuguese-speaking Countries Fashion Show, which helped to create a rich and lively Portuguese cultural ambience at the venue.
More than 30 forums, conferences and promotional sessions were held as supporting activities during the two events. They included: the “9th Industrial and Commercial Summit between Jiangsu・Macao・Portuguese-speaking Countries” and the “Jiangsu-Macao-Cabo Verde Co-operation Forum”; the “Fujian, Macao and Portuguese-Speaking Countries Economic Exchange Networking Session”; the “16th World Summit of Chinese Entrepreneurs”; the “5th Young Entrepreneurs Forum of China and Portuguese-speaking Countries”; and the “Portuguese-speaking Countries Wine and Food Business Matching Seminar”. The “World Chinese Business and Economic Summit” also took place during the events.
Sincere Discussion between IPIM President and Young Entrepreneurs
In order to listen to the ideas and opinions from a younger generation regarding the development of Macao’s meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) industry in Macao, IPIM staged once again the “Frank Dialogue between IPIM President and Youth”. Mrs Irene Va Kuan Lau, President of IPIM invited nearly 80 students from local colleges and universities to attend the discussion on 18 October at 24th MIF and 2019PLPEX venue. During the dialogue session, the discussion and exchanges focused on the theme of the events, and the students actively expressed their thoughts and ideas.
The organiser also set up guided tours for entrepreneurs from Portuguese-speaking Countries, other overseas regions and local companies. Visits were arranged to cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, including Zhuhai and Foshan, as well as to some of Macao’s local neighbourhoods. The latter activity was aimed at spreading the economic benefits of the events to the local community. The visits to business associations and companies in the Greater Bay Area, as well as visits to some key local projects, contribute to deepening participants’ understanding – especially those from Portuguese-speaking Countries – towards policies related to the Greater Bay Area and the fresh development opportunities in the region.
The 25th MIF and the 2020PLPEX will be held from 22 to 24 October 2020.
A “Portuguese-speaking Countries Wine and Food Business Matching Seminar” during PLPEX is bustling
Mrs Irene Va Kuan Lau, President of IPIM exchanges views with young students during the events
A growing number of enterprises explore business opportunities during the two fairs
