HOLDING CEFCO IN MACAO BOOSTS MICE INDUSTRY

The 13th China Expo Forum for International Cooperation (CEFCO) was held in Macao earlier this year, helping to increase collaboration and exchanges among enterprises in the meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) business in Mainland China and abroad. Macao was the first place outside Mainland China to host the event, enhancing the influence and status of the city’s industry. It also allowed MICE enterprises in Mainland China and abroad to see how rapidly the meetings and exhibitions industry is developing in Macao.

The city also made full use of its potential as a Commercial and Trade Co-operation Service Platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking Countries. This year’s Forum emphasised the attraction to representatives from the Portuguese-speaking Countries to attend CEFCO.

Conventions to raise Macao’s profile

The China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI), the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) and the Society of Independent Show Organizers (SISO) jointly organised CEFCO 2017, an event jointly co-ordinated by the China Chamber of International Commerce and the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute. The event took place at The Venetian Macao Resort from 12 to 14 January.

The theme adopted at CEFCO 2017 was “Embracing Change”. The event attracted more than 800 people from 25 different countries and regions, including 330 delegates from Macao and the Portuguese-speaking Countries.

Macao’s Secretary for Economy and Finance Leong Vai Tac, in a speech he gave at the opening ceremony, said CEFCO was actively building a platform for exchange and co-operation among Chinese and foreign enterprises since it was first held, in Beijing in 2005. The event had become one of the most representative and professional events of the meetings and exhibitions industry at home and abroad, he said.

Secretary Leong said Macao became the host city of CEFCO owing to the consideration and support of the Central Government and relevant ministries, which have emphasised the development of the city’s MICE industry with priority to conventions in particular. The event could help further enhance Macao’s visibility as a MICE destination and promote the development of the local convention and exhibition industry, he said.

After the opening ceremony, several agreements were signed, including the Agreement on the Establishment of a Joint Working Committee to Promote the MICE Industry in the Macao SAR, signed by representatives of the Macao Secretariat for Economy and Finance and CCPIT; the Agreement on CEFCO Co-operation, signed by representatives of CCPIT, UFI, IAEE and SISO; the Letter of Intent on Further Co-operation in the Exhibition Industry, signed by representatives of the Macau Fair & Trade Association and the CCPIT Training Centre; and the Macao International Audio-Visual Show and Portable Hi-Fi Show Co-operation Agreement, signed by a CCPIT regional subcouncil and representatives of Macao.

Bridges between Macao, the world

The programme of this year’s CEFCO introduced, for the first time, the “Global CEO Round Table”, which took place on the first day of the event. The programme also featured numerous themed lectures and meetings, including meetings on Shifting the Role of Government in MICE Development and the Macao Mice Industry – Road to Innovation. China’s Exhibition Economy Development Report 2016 – a publication from the CCPIT – was published during the event. Another feature of CEFCO 2017 was the “Macao MICE Business Zone”, where 21 Macao enterprises showcased their services and participated in business matching sessions. On the final day of CEFCO 2017, the organisers arranged an Outdoor Networking activity for the participants to show Macao’s MICE facilities and provide a first-hand experience of the essence of the city’s cultural and tourism.

Chairman of Macao Convention & Exhibition Association Alan Ho said CEFCO 2017 allowed more international professional organisations to better understand Macao, helping the convention and exhibition industry here to maintain international standards. CEFCO 2017 was also an example of the excellent relations between Mainland China and Macao, contributing to strengthening regional co-operation.

The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Association of the Advertising Agents of Macao Lo Tak Chong commended the effectiveness of the “Macao MICE Business Zone”, which fosters liaisons and exchanges between Macao enterprises and representatives from Chengdu, Guangzhou, Ningxia and other Mainland cities, as well as organisations from Portuguese-speaking Countries. More than 100 business-matching sessions were held during the three-day event, involving owners of event venues, event organisers and construction materials companies, Mr Lo said.

Promoting closer ties

As the host city of this year’s CEFCO, Macao actively utilised its advantages as a Commercial and Trade Co-operation Service Platform between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, emphasised the invitation to delegates from countries such as Angola, Brazil, Guinea- Bissau, Mozambique and Portugal. CCPIT Vice-Chairman Wang Jinzhen said the representation of participating countries at CECFO 2017 was greater compared with previous forums and the content and arrangement events were specially arranged, he said. CEFCO and Macao could continue to serve as platforms to lay a good foundation for co-operation between countries covered by the “Belt and Road” initiative.

Laura Vidal, from Lisbon, said CEFCO 2017 allowed her to establish contacts with businesspeople from Mainland China, and around the world, and better understand the latest developments in Macao. It had helped reinforce the interest from Portuguese-speaking Countries in using Macao as a platform to explore the Mainland China market.

The ‘Global CEO Round Table’ was held on the first day of the event