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This Issue’s Topical Story

The 12th International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum Concludes in Success
The 12th International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum (12th IIICF), co-organised by the China International Contractors Association (CHINCA) and the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), was held in Macao from 22 to 23 July, themed “Join Hands for New Development of International Infrastructure Co-operation”. The 12th IIICF continued to combine online and offline activities, serving as an exchange and matching platform for representatives of governments, research institutes, industries and universities from Mainland China, Macao, and countries and regions along the Belt and Road routes, to promote international co-operation in the industry. During the event, 11 collaboration agreements were signed, covering hydropower, wind power, petrochemistry and municipal engineering in Africa, Latin America, the South Pacific and Europe (Germany and Bosnia and Herzegovina).

A total of 5 parallel forums and 26 business activities were staged during the two-day forum, attended by over 1,300 prominent figures in political, business and academic circles from over 500 entities from 71 countries and regions, an increase of around 30% compared to the 11th IIICF. These guests included diplomatic envoys stationed in China from 42 countries, senior executives of 25 financial institutions, 64 top 250 international contractors and 72 Global 500 companies. 203 business meetings between participating enterprises were held, which was over 10% increase compared to the previous edition of IIICF. 53% of the guests engage in equipment manufacturing, finance and insurance, design consultancy, building materials, engineering services and other related industrial chains, helping to propel and intensify the synergistic industrial development. In addition, the number of booths has grown by about 40% from the 11th IIICF to 60 booths this year. The combination of exhibitions and forums is expected to enhance communication and business matching.

Chairman of the CHINCA Fang Qiuchen presided the opening ceremony of IIICF, where Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region Ho Iat Seng, the then Assistant Minister of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China (Member of the CPC Leadership Group of the Ministry of Commerce of PRC and Vice Minister) Ren Hongbin, Deputy Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan Mirza Muhammad Afridi, Malaysia’s Minister of Transport Datuk Seri Ir. Dr. Wee Ka Siong, Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation Hadi Abubakar Sirika gave keynote speeches.

Release of the Belt and Road Infrastructure Development Index
The launch ceremony of “The Belt and Road Infrastructure Development Index 2021” and “The Belt and Road Infrastructure Development Index Report 2021” was held during the 12th IIICF. In addition to forecasting the short-term trends of the infrastructure sector, the Report also highlights Macao elements, and provides suggestions on how Macao can seize such opportunities as the 14th Five-Year Plan and the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

According to the Report, Macao has close trade relations with countries along the Belt and Road routes, and its trade volume with Portuguese-speaking Countries is increasing rapidly. The establishment of the China-Portuguese-speaking Countries Co-operation and Development Fund has spurred the investment of Chinese companies in Portuguese-speaking Countries. Against the backdrop of COVID-19, the Fund continuously intensifies its focus on infrastructure, clean energy, medical and health care in Portuguese-speaking Countries, and contributes to Macao’s positioning as “One Centre, One Platform” as well as its modern finance and green finance services. In May 2021, Macao set up the Working Committee for Integrating into National Development to coordinate the works for the overall strategy regarding Macao’s participation in and contribution to the country’s Belt and Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, so as to further integrate Macao into the Belt and Road’s construction and coordinate its corresponding efforts. Heavily involved in the Belt and Road’s construction, Macao has been placed at a crucial intersection point of “dual circulation” during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, and will play an important role in facilitating infrastructure interconnectivity and co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries.

Multiple Parallel Forums Held During IIICF for Industry Insiders to Exchange Professional Insights
The five parallel forums held during the 12th International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum, including “Giving Full Play to Macao’s Role as Platform, Promoting China and Portuguese-speaking Countries to Jointly Advance the Belt and Road Co-operation” and “Carbon Neutrality and International Power Energy Co-operation”, came to an end. The parallel forums covered a wide variety of topics, such as the trends of international infrastructure in carbon neutrality, energy conservation and emissions reduction, financial innovation, green infrastructure development, zero-coupon bonds, and infrastructure financing. Meanwhile, issues relating to how to promote the collaborative innovation and development of overseas consulting services and contracted projects, as well as the development of Macao as a co-operation platform between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries to assist Mainland and Macao companies in their joint exploration of the markets in Portuguese-speaking Countries, were discussed.

Two keynote forums, “Dialogue with Senior Management from Financial Institutions-Breaking Financing Bottleneck in Infrastructure Projects through Financial Innovation” and “Trends, Opportunities and Challenges in International Infrastructure Development under the Background of Carbon Peak and Neutrality”, and “The 7th China-LAC Infrastructure Forum” were also staged during IIICF.

The Networking Reception of the Mainland China-Macao Belt and Road Business and Professional Services Council was also held, where over 110 representative of enterprises, chambers of commerce and associations gathered together to discuss how to help Mainland and Macao enterprises recover after pandemic, and how to create more opportunities and deepen co-operation while boosting the “Belt and Road” infrastructure collaboration and investment growth.

In addition, IPIM arranged a community tour for nearly 50 event attendees. They visited the Macao Grand Prix Museum, the Museum of Taipa and Coloane History, streets and alleys in Coloane and Taipa, for the first-hand experience of the city’s views and delicacies.

Third Working Meeting of IIICF Steering Committee Convenes in Macao
The IIICF Steering Committee convened its third working meeting in Macao one day before IIICF commenced. The meeting was co-chaired by the then Assistant Minister of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China (Member of the CPC Leadership Group of the Ministry of Commerce of PRC and Vice Minister) Ren Hongbin and Secretary for Economy and Finance of the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region Lei Wai Nong.

Participants of this meeting included representatives of the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR, the Secretariat for Economy and Finance of the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region, the Policy Research and Regional Development Bureau of the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region, the China International Contractors Association, the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, the Permanent Secretariat of Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao), and the Supporting Office to the Permanent Secretariat of Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao).

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Opening ceremony of the 12th International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum

Opening ceremony of the 12th International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum

“The Belt and Road Infrastructure Development Index 2021” and “The Belt and Road Infrastructure Development Index Report 2021” are released

“The Belt and Road Infrastructure Development Index 2021” and “The Belt and Road Infrastructure Development Index Report 2021” are released

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Industry representatives are invited to share their experience in the parallel forums

Industry representatives are invited to share their experience in the parallel forums

Participants of the community tour visiting the Macao Grand Prix Museum

Participants of the community tour visiting the Macao Grand Prix Museum

11 collaboration agreements are signed at the IIICF, covering hydropower, wind power, petrochemistry and municipal engineering

11 collaboration agreements are signed at the IIICF, covering hydropower, wind power, petrochemistry and municipal engineering