The four-day 18th Macao International Trade and Investment Fair (MIF) was opened to the public today (18th), attracting a great number of trade visitors and the general public. The pavilions and sales exhibition zones registered a boom in visitors flow. Today, a total of 733 business matching sessions were held and 73 contracts were signed. Business Day features five highlighted activities to aid SMEs to explore opportunities
The SME International Business Day (hereinafter "Business Day") was opened today. Officiating guests at the opening included President of Macao Investment and Trade Promotion Institute Jackson Chang, President of the Board of Directors of Macao Chamber of Commerce Kou Hoi In, Executive Directors of Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute Echo Chan and Irene V.K. Lau, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Industrial Association of Macau Chui Yuk Lum, Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of Macau Shipper's Association Tang Kuan Fong, Chairman of the Boards of Directors of Macau Management Association Lau Veng Seng, Vice Chairman of the Management Board of the Small and Medium Enterprise Association of Macao Daniel Iong, Deputy Director General of Macau Productivity and Technology Transfer Center Mok Iun Lei, Controller of Macao Textile Merchants Association Alain Ku, Consultant of CCPIT Commercial Sub-council Tian Min and Chairman of Licensing & Franchising Association of Hong Kong Wilson Lee. President of IPIM Jackson Chang said that SMEs is the primary target group of IPIM services, a series of services including "One-Stop Service" for investors, promotion services, business-matching as well as trade and economic information are provided to assist SMEs in publicity and promotion, enhance competitiveness and explore business opportunities. The Business Day this year continues to focus on promoting brand building, enhancing corporate values and encouraging more people to start business. It covers five major areas including SME service counter, business promotion and business start-up consultation, business and entrepreneurship seminars, incentives plans for SME as well as franchise and chain operation catalogue show, with a view to promote participating SMEs to seize business opportunities through the MIF platform. During the event, professionals from Hong Kong, Mainland and Taiwan were invited to provide professional opinions to SMEs on various areas including branding skills, re-packaging of product and services, market strategies and business promotion. Strengthen Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries and Promote the Business and Trade Platform MIF has always been regarded as an important platform in tapping the Mainland and Portuguese-speaking countries markets. In recent years, the Pavilion of Portugal has been increasing in size with a total area of over 1,000 square metres this year, an area twice as large as that of the previous year and there is also an increase in the number of participating exhibitors. According to Alberto Carvalho Neto, Chairman of the Portugal and China Young Entrepreneur Association, Portuguese exhibitors participating this year are enormous in number and also highly experienced, covering different sectors and profession including lawyers, architects and real estates developer, accounting and food manufacturing, so as to gain better understanding of the investment opportunities in Macao. He believed that Macao is playing an active role in bridging the trade and business links between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, assisting Portuguese entrepreneurs in business expansion as well as in tapping the Mainland market. The MIF platform enables Portuguese entrepreneurs to establish contacts with trade visitors from Hong Kong, Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao and explore cooperation opportunities. A total of 733 business matching sessions were conducted on second day of MIF
A total of 733 business matching sessions were held today, resulted in the signing of 37 contracts covering co-operation in cultural tourism and labour services, establishment of Chinese restaurants, agency and marketing of aluminum alloy cables, products from Portuguese-speaking countries, construction materials, environmentally-friendly equipment and healthcare products, business consultancy on environment protection projects, research and development in Information and Technology industry, business development and promotion, soccer school, shopping arcade investments, research and development in traditional Chinese Medicine, as well as Macao enterprises interested in establishing businesses in the Guangdong-Macau Traditional Chinese Medicine Technology Industrial Park. More activities available at MIF, not to be missed!
Other highlighted activities at today's MIF include Jiangsu – Macau • Portuguese-Speaking Countries Agricultural Co-operation Roundtable Conference and "Ancient Capital Beijing, Glamorous Dongcheng District" Promotion Conference. Tomorrow's highlights include the 10th World Summit of Chinese Entrepreneurs, Forum : Are you ready to start your business?, 2013 Macau International Traditional Medicine Forum(MITMF) "Traditional Medicine and Health Care", Macau Animation Industry Investment Conference & 6th Macau International Animation Festival Promotion, 10th Asian Magic Association Convention. More featured activities, e.g. the Creativity Business Zone promoting cultural and creative industries, fashion show, Taiwanese Excellence Pavilion themed around Taiwan's future technologies and smart life, Health Culture Pavilion are also available at the MIF, suitable for all family visitors during this weekend. Free shuttle bus service for trade visitors and the general public
To encourage interested parties to visit the MIF in an environmentally-friendly way, free shuttle bus service are available between the MIF venue and various pickup points, including Estr. Marginal do Hipodromo (near Royal Supermarket at Areia Preta), Av. Dr. Mario Soares (The Macau Square) and Avenida do Conselheiro Ferreira da Almeida (near Pak Wai bus stop) on Macao peninsular and Avenida de Guimarães (Parque Central Da Taipa) on Taipa island. Schedules are as follows: 19th October: 9:30am to 7pm; 20th October: 9:30am to 5pm running from the pickup points mentioned above to the MIF venue. 19th October: 10:30am to 8:30pm; 20th October: 10:30am to 6:30pm running from the MIF venue to the pickup points. Furthermore, visitors may also park their cars at the public parking lot of the Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel (charges of MOP10 per hour apply). For more information on the 18 MIF, please contact the MIF hotline (853) 2882 2711 or fax (853) 2882 8722 or visit the official MIF website www.mif.com.mo.
