12^TH JOINT MEETING OF PAN-PEARL RIVER DELT A MAYORS

The 12^th Joint Meeting of Pan-Pearl River Delta Mayors held in Nanchang

The 12^th Joint Meeting of Pan-Pearl River Delta Mayors was held on 13 December 2016 in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province.

Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Jiangxi Provincial Committee and Secretary of the CPC Nanchang Municipal Committee Yin Meigen gave a speech and commenced this year’s meeting. The Vice Mayor of Nanchang Yang Wenbin gave an account of the co-operation between the PPRD cities since 2015, and speeches focusing on the theme of the meeting were given by representative from the 9+2 provinces/regions in the PPRD.

To be in line with the theme of this year’s meeting, “adapting to the new normal and promoting industrial transformation and upgrading in the region”, the representative of the Macao SAR Government and IPIM’s President Jackson Chang gave a speech to share Macao’s two-pronged approach in its development strategy, while on one hand enhancing the quality and capacity for development, and on the other hand, strengthening regional co-operation. He also welcomed PPRD enterprises to make use of Macao’s strength as a platform between China and PSCs and its development in the convention and exhibition industry, to play the role as a “new window” in promoting industrial transformation and upgrading.

The meeting passed the resolution regarding the organising city for the 13^th Joint Meeting of Pan-Pearl River Delta Mayors and announced that the meeting will be held in Changsha.

THE BUSINESS CO-OPERATION WORKING GROUP MEETING BETWEEN ZHONGSHAN AND MACAO HELD IN ZHONGSHAN

The Business Co-operation Working Group Meeting between Zhongshan and Macao

A delegation of seven, led by IPIM’s President and Head of the Business Co-operation Working Group (Macao) Jackson Chang, went to Zhongshan on 20 January, and held the Business Co-operation Working Group Meeting between Zhongshan and Macao with Vice-Mayor of Zhongshan Municipality and Head of the Business Co-operation Working Group (Zhongshan) Lei Yuelong. The meeting concluded business co-operation between Zhongshan and Macao in 2016, as well as discussing and exchanging views on the working plan and suggestions to enhance business cooperation and development between the two in 2017.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed about deepening business co-operation in 2017 and aimed to provide more facilitation and enhancement services, as well as jointly promoting Zhongshan- Macao co-operation in convention and exhibition industry as well as in investment attraction. IPIM invited Zhongshan to participate in 2017 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum & Exhibition (MIECF) to share the business opportunities brought about by the individual visit scheme for yachts. IPIM also invited Zhongshan to promote the strength of its industries, including those engaging in home appliances, lighting and hardware by participating in the Macao International Trade and Investment Fair (MIF) and the Guangdong and Macao Branded Products Fair. On exploring the PSCs markets, the two sides planned to make use of the Macao platform to promote trade and business liaisons between Zhongshan and PSCs. Zhongshan acknowledged Macao’s role and believed that it helps to attract more overseas enterprises to seek business opportunities in the city. Zhongshan invited Macao enterprises to participate in the Zhongshan Investment and Trade Fair (also known as the “328 Fair”), and also plans to recommend local business and trade associations to join IPIM’s delegation to go to Sao Paulo and participate in the APAS Trade Show 2017 in May, and fact finding visits on the investment environment will be organised. The two sides agreed that Zhongshan and Macao are highly complementary to each other’s strengths and can explore networking and co-operation in the area of industrial design.

IPIM’S MAINLAND LIAISON OFFICES/REPRESENTATIVE OFFICES ANNUAL MEETING 2016/2017

IPIM’s Mainland Liaison Offices/ Representative Offices Annual Meeting 2016/2017

IPIM’s Mainland Liaison Offices/Representative Offices Annual Meeting 2016/2017 was held at the 3rd floor of the World Trade Centre Building on 14 and 15 January. The meeting was attended by IPIM’s Executive Directors Irene V. K. Lau and Gloria Ung, heads of departments, as well as all staff from the six Liaison Offices/Representative Offices in Hangzhou, Changdu, Shenyang, Fuzhou, Guangzhou and Wuhan. The participants concluded IPIM’s work on the Mainland in 2016, and also worked on the overall planning for the Liaison Offices/Representative Offices in 2017. Primarily, it has been planned that Mainland Liaison Offices/Representative Offices will gradually organise PSCs food products trade fairs and arrange internship opportunities for Macao students studying in China in the second quarter of 2017.

During the annual meeting, the Monetary Authority of Macao, Bank of China Macau Branch and Keng Ou CPAs have been specially invited to introduce the policies related to Macao’s characteristics financial sector, RMB clearing as well as Macao’s strength in maintain a low taxation regime, and conducted indepth discussion with the Mainland Liaison Offices/Representative Offices. IPIM hoped that it will enable Mainland companies to have more understanding of Macao’s latest policies so as to better publicise and promote Macao’s strengths to the government and enterprises in the regions they are serving.