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Participants praise 2018MIECF for bearing fruit

The 2018 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum & Exhibition (2018MIECF) was held from 12 to 14 April. Many participants said the event helped them expand to new markets, facilitated exchanges among different industries on the latest environmentally friendly measures, and promoted co-operation among regions, strengthening Macao’s role as a platform for exploring new opportunities.

Green exhibitions nursery

The Deputy Director of the Circulation Industry Promotion Centre Exhibition Industry Promotion Division of the Ministry of Commerce, Zhang Zhe, was one of the keynote speakers at the Green Forum of 2018MIECF Green Business Co-operation Day. Mr Zhang said Mainland China had implemented many measures in the field of green exhibitions in recent years, after the Central Government said the economy was transforming from a phase of rapid growth to quality growth.

These measures included 1. setting and raising the standards for green exhibitions; 2. leading by example, so green concepts manifest themselves in exhibitions run by the Ministry of Commerce and in big, nationally renowned exhibitions; 3. offering more guidance to foster the market, requiring the organisers and co-organisers of events staged by the Ministry of Commerce, and other trade and economic fairs to detail the outcomes of green measures taken during their events; 4. gathering all of the parties and facilitating an amicable atmosphere for development of the industry through the China Green Exhibition Alliance, which allows the group’s 52 members to work together to lower costs and enhance efficiency in 2016.

Mr Zhang stressed that green development and sustainable development will be the principal trends as the exhibition industry grows, and that environmental protection, energy conservation and lowering carbon emissions will be the main elements of green exhibitions. He said Mainland China and Macao could together undertake projects and nurture internationally competitive exhibitions, and that they could increase exchanges of information about their experiences, designs and technology to facilitate the development of green exhibitions.

The Macao platform

CESL Asia Investments and Services Ltd. President and Chief Executive António Trindade said CESL Asia, a Macao company, took part in 2018MIECF to show its ideas about smart cities and application of innovative solutions in areas such as environmental management, disaster relief and public utilities.

CESL Asia has been to MIECF for 11 times and Mr Trindade said the environmental protection industry had undergone huge changes since his company first exhibited. Technology – in particular artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing and big data – dominated the development of the industry and brought changes at all levels, from the individual to the community. The society no longer blindly pursued big infrastructure projects but started paying attention to the application of technology, such as in smart transport systems, to facilitate the creation of a green society.

As Mainland China had advantages in technology such as AI and big data technology, Mr Trindade said Macao could exploit its strengths as a bridge between the demands of Portuguese-speaking Countries and China’s technology.

Mr Trindade said the MIECF was a good occasion for people in the industry in the surrounding region and from around the world to share the latest insights, while policymakers and the representatives of companies and chambers of commerce gathered to brainstorm new ideas about how to improve the way people live. The event had a unique appeal as it had attracted many exhibitors from Portuguese-speaking Countries, including various enterprises and businesspeople. Taking part in MIECF had proved fruitful for CESL Asia which had struck development and co-operation deals together worth nearly €15 million (MOP148.7 million) over the years.

Smart ways to get around

China Trustful Group Ltd. concentrates on developing new ways of tapping energy. It has exhibited at MIECF for three years in a row. The company and its affiliates unveiled at 2018MIECF two types of electric vehicle specifically designed for Macao. One is an electric coach for carrying tourists and the other an electric bus for public transport.

Zhejiang Zhixin Holding Group Co. Ltd. Vice-President Sun Yiqi, said the group had maintained close ties with potential buyers of its vehicles in Macao since taking part in MIECF for the first time in 2016. Mr Sun said China Trustful had come up with intelligent means of transport custom-designed for the city, which took into account its geography, climate and road traffic.

Mr Sun said the vehicles unveiled this year were 9.5 metres long, with capacities up to 39 and 40 passengers, capable of negotiating the narrow streets and steep slopes of Macao while meeting the European Union standards. The vehicles were equipped with the internet-connected driver assistance system, feeding the ambition of making Macao a smart city that is friendly to the environment.

China Trustful plans to bring 100 electric buses to Macao’s market this year. Mr Sun said promoting electric vehicles helps Macao as a tourism destination, keep in line with the development trends of international metropolises.

The electric vehicles made by the group had attracted the attention of potential buyers Portugal, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Mexico and other countries or regions, he said.

Koln New Energy Technology Co. Ltd. Director Johnny Ma, whose company is an authorised agent of China Trustful in Macao, said three or four Macao enterprises were interested in buying China Trustful electric buses. Mr Ma said his company could arrange for potential users to lease the vehicles, reducing financial pressure for potential users.

Green tourism

BYD Co. Ltd., a Chinese company known for automobile manufacturing and alternative energy, did not exhibit at 2018MIECF, but BYD representatives attended the “2018MIECF Green Business Co-operation Day” where they had an opportunity to expand their worldwide network. BYD (Macau) Ltd. General Manager Henry Yip told Macao Image that his company had shown its electric buses and taxis at exhibitions in Macao when the city was in the early stages of promoting green transport, and had received impressive feedback. BYD subsequently struck the first deal to sell electric buses in Macao, in 2016, and it brought an 11-tonne electric truck to the city in 2017 to promote the use of green vehicles in the logistics business. Since February this year 16 BYD electric taxis have been plying the streets of Macao.

Mr Yip stresses that BYD does more than just selling vehicles: it comes up with new energy solutions. He said his company advocated the substitution of electric vehicles for conventional diesel-fuelled vehicles used as buses, taxis or private conveyances, or used for shifting goods around warehouses and quaysides. He said Shenzhen, where BYD has its headquarters, had nearly 12,500 electric taxis in service, or about 62.5 percent of the fleet, meaning it is among the cities that make the greatest use of electric taxis in the world.

Mr Yip said as the infrastructure and facilities for electric vehicles in Macao improved, the city had plenty of potential to increase its use of electric vehicles. He expects BYD to take part in the MIECF next year, to introduce more electric vehicles and help Macao become what he called a “world-class green tourism city”.