News

At 2:00 p.m. on the first day (31 March) of the 2016 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum and Exhibition (2016MIECF), the “Green Business Co-operation Day”, organised by the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), will be held in the Sicily Room of the Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel. Leaders of chambers of commerce and business associations, representatives of listed companies and experts from home and abroad have been invited to discuss topics, such as business strategies in waste management and environmental protection measures adopted by the hospitality industry, as well as analysing the opportunities given to the related sectors in the industry chain, especially the SMEs. A series of activities to help companies explore green business opportunities The “Green Business Co-operation Day” is one of a series of activities at the 2016MIECF. Events this year include the Green Forum, networking cocktail and signing ceremonies. The Green Forum is divided into two sessions, as follows: Session I – “Zero Waste and High Efficiency – Blue Ocean Strategy for Business Success” The moderator of this session is Mr. António Trindade, Founding President of Macao Association of Environmental Protection Industry. Speakers include Mr. Ricardo Neto, President and Iberian Manager of the European Recycling Platform, Mr. José Pedro Salema, CEO and Chairman of EDIA – Empresa de Desenvolvimento e Infraestruturas do Alqueva, S.A., Mr. Wang Deying, Executive Director and Chairman of China Water Industry Group, Ms. Yawei Chen, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment at Delft University of Technology and Ms. Veronique Rochet, Regional Sustainability Manager at Hennes & Mauritz AB (H&M) Shanghai. The panel will analyse the success stories of large local and international enterprises, and discuss how to make components of the value chain highly efficient and achieve zero waste, in a bid to successfully develop new markets and new growth, to ultimately create a “blue ocean” for the enterprises. Session II – “Turning Green into Gold” – Green Business Opportunities for the Hospitality Industry With Macao being a tourism destination, sustainable development of its hotel industry has significant impact on the local economy. Mr. Sean Lee-Davies, TV Programme Producer and Host will be the moderator of this session. Ms. Fran Hughes, Director of the International Tourism Partnership, Professor Daniel M. Cheng, Managing Director, Durwell Enviro-Techn Holdings Ltd., Mr. Joshua Ho, Vice President, Property Services, Melco Crown Entertainment Limited, Ms. Rebecca Donnellan, Director of Sustainability at MGM (Macao) and Mr. Syed Mubarak, Director of Sustainability at Sands China Ltd. have been invited to explore how to develop business, reduce waste, improve operational efficiency and increase profit in an environmentally-friendly manner. This session will also explore the green business opportunities open to the related sectors in the industry chain and how related SMEs can find business opportunities from the business development strategy of the hospitality industry. Building a Green Business Network and Witnessing the Growth of Green Business Opportunities “Green Business Networking Cocktail Reception & Signing Ceremony” will take place immediately after, at 5:30 p.m., in Expo Hall A of the Venetian Macao Resort Hotel. A series of co-operation agreements in environmental protection will be signed. This event will provide an opportunity for exchange and business discussions for enterprises from different parts of the world, to further promote co-operation in the environmental field, between local and overseas enterprises. Local enterprises, professionals and the general public are all welcome to participate in the “Green Business Co-operation Day”. Please register early as seats are limited, interested parties please contact Ms. Kuan of IPIM’s Research and Information Division on 8798 9127, fax: 2872 8208, e-mail: ipimcom@ipim.gov.mo. For further information about the “Green Business Co-operation Day”, please visit the official website: www.macaomiecf.com.
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The highly-acclaimed concert “Weekend Music Party” presented by the Macao Orchestra, under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau will proceed this Saturday (April 2) at 4pm at the Dom Pedro V Theatre. The performance of the concert “Weekend Music Party – Back in Time” features various ensembles which will perform a selection of popular American songs from the 70’s and 80’s. A limited number of tickets are available for purchase at the Macau Ticketing Network. The programme of the concert features new string and brass arrangements of songs such as “Yesterday”, “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” and “Love Me Tender”, etc.; combining the delicacy and beauty of classical music with modern pop sounds presenting a new sensory experience that can be enjoyed by everyone. Complementing the concert, an antiques’ market will be held outside the Dom Pedro V Theatre, featuring local boutiques including MissKai’s Vintage, The Things Studio and Naka Shop, among others. Entrance to the antiques’ market is free of charge. Tickets for the concert “Weekend Music Party – Back in Time” are on sale at the prices of MOP100 and MOP120. Ticketing hotline: 2855 5555. For more information and the programme, please visit the Macao Orchestra’s website at www.icm.gov.mo/om.
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The deliberation of the “Promoting Honesty” video contest targeting secondary students, organised by the Commission Against Corruption (CCAC), was completed recently. The Champion, 1st runner-up and 2nd runner-up of the Senior Secondary Group are from Yuet Wah College (Cheating‧Game), the Workers’ Children High School (1st Runner-up) and the 5th School of the Diocesan College of Saint Joseph (Father and Son) respectively. The three finalists of the Junior Secondary Group are from Hou Kong Middle School (Mummy Understands), the 5th School of the Diocesan College of Saint Joseph (A Moment of Greed) and the Workers’ Children High School (Contentment Brings Happiness) respectively. The videos of the Workers’ Children High School (Bribery‧A Dream) and Hou Kong Middle School (Social Newsflash) received the most “Like” by the online voters and were awarded the “Most Popular Video Award” of the Senior Secondary Group and the Junior Secondary Group respectively. In addition to the above awards, the complete list of awards with the Merit Awards and Awards for shortlisted videos has been uploaded to the CCAC’s website (www.ccac.org.mo). The CCAC will notify the winning students about the arrangements of prize collection. The contest received satisfactory response, a total of 89 entries from 18 schools were collected from the students. The deliberation meeting was held recently. The judge panel, comprising Professor of Department of English of the University of Macau, Tan See Kam, Chairman of the supervisory board of Association of Audiovisual CUT, Ho Ka Cheng, art and cultural worker, Joe Tang, local young director, Ao Ieong Weng Fong and Head of Education and Awareness Division of the CCAC, Ao Man Wa, selected 15 videos from each group based on the theme expression, creativity and inspiration, as well as filming techniques of the videos. Subsequently, the Champion, 1st runner-up, 2nd runner-up and Merit Awards were selected from the shortlisted videos. The judges praised highly the entries and believed that a lot of them are creative and with high standard. The filming skills and editing techniques are quite good as well. They also agreed that through organising this contest, the CCAC is able to guide the students to recognise the importance of integrity and to establish a correct value of money.
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The Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) is now calling for submission of information in order to publish two yearbooks on the performing arts, one about theatre and another about dance. Local art associations or artists are welcome to provide relevant information starting from today until 31 May, in order to facilitate the compilation of the yearbooks. With the growth of Macao’s artistic events and artistic exchanges with other countries and regions in the recent years, it is necessary to keep a detailed record of Macao’s artistic development and document the related artistic events and activities systematically. Last year, IC initiated the edition of two yearbooks, about Macao’s theatre and dance, respectively, which will soon come into print. Currently, IC keeps on collecting information for the Macao Theatre Yearbook 2015 and the Macao Dance Yearbook 2015. The Macao Theatre Culture Institute and the New Generation Culture Association have been asked to assist in compiling the publications. These yearbooks will document the activities of two major performing art sectors held in the respective year, featuring information of local and overseas performances and exchanges, competitions, seminars, courses and workshops, exhibitions, research, related publications (such as books, periodicals, scripts, dissertation and critiques), photos, videos and so forth. As the yearbooks involve a vast scope of materials, IC and the two commissioned associations are now gathering relevant information for the yearbooks in order to prevent the omission of any data and ensure the integrity of the data. All interested parties in providing the aforementioned information may contact Ms. Lao (theatre category) through tel. no. 2835 1572 or via email macautheatre@gmail.com, or Ms. Dai (dance category) through tel. no. 6613 1787 or via email macaudanceyrbk@gmail.com.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the unemployment rate for December 2015-February 2016 held stable at 1.9% as in the previous period (November 2015-January 2016); the underemployment rate was 0.5%, up by 0.1 percentage point. Total labour force was 397,800 and the labour force participation rate stood at 72.5%. Total employment increased slightly by 100 from November 2015-January 2016, at 390,400. Analysed by industry, employment in Construction registered decrease, while that in Gaming & Junket Activities saw increase. Number of the unemployed was 7,400, down by 300 from November 2015-January 2016; fresh labour force entrants searching for their first job accounted for 6.9% of the total unemployed, down by 3.0 percentage points. In comparison with December 2014-February 2015, the labour force participation rate decreased by 1.6 percentage points, while the unemployment rate and the underemployment rate increased by 0.2 and 0.1 percentage points respectively.
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As the old saying goes, bread is the stall of life. Whether establishing new business or expanding market share, food is a good starting idea to provide many business opportunities for entrepreneurs and companies. Macao is economic and trade cooperation service platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, and the three centers have food element - including the Portuguese-speaking Countries Food Product Exhibition Centre to be inaugurated in Macao Tap Seac Square business center R1 units (commonly known as the "Glass House") on 31st March. Concentrated display a variety of products from Portuguese-speaking countries The upcoming Portuguese-speaking Countries Food Product Exhibition Centre attracts many businessmen and trade agencies to participate as exhibitors showing food represented or supplied, originated from Portuguese-speaking countries so as to find more trading opportunities. F. Rodrigues (Successors) Company Limited displays a variety of food in the center, including sardines, cod fish, tuna fish, olive oil and various kinds of wine. The company CEO Mr. Humberto Carlos Leitão Rodrigues hopes to promote their food, enhance awareness of cuisine of Portuguese-speaking countries and increase trading activities with Mainland China. Baby food is welcomed by post- 80s and 90s mothers In addition to wine, olive oil and canned food from Portuguese-speaking countries, i.e. the common products, baby food can also be found in the Portuguese-speaking Countries Food Product Exhibition Centre. Kid’s Shopping Centre executive director Ms Latonya W.M. Leong, said that baby food in all Portuguese-speaking countries must be tested and meet EU standards, so it is safe and convenient, and price is not so expensive, thus being very welcomed in Macao market. Chairman of the Executive Committee of International Lusophone Markets Business Association, Mr. Eduardo Ambrósio said that, Portuguese-speaking Countries Food Product Exhibition Centre aims to provide enterprises a platform to promote the food, and he hopes thisthose will help the food to enter the mainland market. IPIM mainland liaison office successfully helped companies to import food from Portuguese-speaking Countries Although food from Portuguese-speaking countries currently does not take much market share, there are still many business opportunities. Last year, a company in Shenyang spotted the increasing market; they recognized Portuguese products had been known for high quality and low price, so they renamed the company as New Portuguese Trend and manage to bring the Portuguese wine and food to the local market. Make efforts to build a good platform online and offline Portuguese-speaking Countries Food Product Exhibition Centre in Macao is a offline shop to promote economic and trade co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, and online is set up a website called Economic & Trade Co-operation and Human Resources Portal Between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries. Through the Portuguese-speaking Countries Food Products Database, it is possible to be regularly published investment projects, trading and exhibition information of Portuguese-speaking countries. So it can helps to build the “three centers” namely, the China and Portuguese-speaking Countries SME Business Service Center, Portuguese Speaking Countries Food Distribution Center, Exhibition Center for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-Speaking Countries, enabling companies and entrepreneurs to explore business and expand market.
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Consumer Council is concerned about the affect on consumers caused by the delay of Mega Maldives Airlines' chartered flight. The Council has been in close contact with the relevant departments to assist consumers. The Council has received one case from its holiday hotline regarding the incident. The Council has been in close contact with Macao Government Tourism Office (DST) and Civil Aviation Authority (AACM) since the chartered flight of Mega Maldives Airlines to Palau delayed on 24 March. The Council continues its hotline service during Easter holidays and as at 27 March afternoon, one inquiry case has been received so far. The Council will continue to assist consumers, including the transfer of cases to relevant consumers organizations for consumers from the Mainland. Consumer Council's hotline is available from 25 to 28 March, 9AM to 6PM each day, and the Council will resume office work on 29 March. For enquiry, please call 8988 9315.
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The 2016 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum and Exhibition (MIECF) takes place at the Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel from 31 March to 2 April under the theme “Green Economy – Opportunities for Waste Management”. The 2016 MIECF will see the debut of a themed area with three exhibition zones, covering the topics of waste management, green construction and green transportation. The area and its zones will enable exhibition visitors to learn first hand about the latest environmentally-friendly technologies, thus creating more business opportunities for companies in the industry. As part of MIECF’s ongoing commitment – as a green event – to protecting the environment, the 2016 edition will follow the practice adopted in previous years: no carpet or other floor covering will be used in the main passages, so as to promote the concept of environmental protection and create a green image of the exhibition. The 2016 MIECF officially opens next Thursday (31 March). The exhibition portion of the entire event – known as the Green Showcase – brings together over 460 exhibitors from more than 20 different countries and regions. The exhibition as a whole covers an area of approximately 16,900 square metres. The participants include the “9+1” Pan-Pearl River Delta provinces and regions, European Countries, Portuguese-speaking Countries and the United States of America. They return this year with their respective exhibition displays. The Green Showcase has also attracted 21 VIP exhibitors from renowned environmental enterprises in Mainland China, Germany, Sweden, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. Debut of environmental exhibition zones To align with the overall theme of the 2016 MIECF, this year’s Green Showcase will add for the first time – as mentioned above – a themed exhibition area with three special environmental zones, covering the topics of waste management, green construction and green transportation. The themed area will join, in the Green Showcase, the displays of Pan-Pearl River Delta and Portuguese-speaking Countries, the European Union Pavilion, the United States Pavilion, the Macao Pavilion and an exhibition display for Macao companies. The exhibition zone for waste management focuses on the “5Rs” regarding greener quality management systems (i.e., Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair and Recycle). The technologies on display will include: separation/recycling technologies; waste management solutions; waste-to-energy technologies; sludge processing and treatment systems; and water conservation systems. The exhibition zone for green construction mainly features building technologies; facility management systems; advanced electronic heating and cooling systems; building construction services; and related solutions. The zone for green transportation mainly includes buses and motorcycles powered by electricity, hybrid energy sources or fuel cells. It also covers electricity charging stations and related infrastructure, as well as battery and logistics solutions. Collective effort to create a green event The Macao SAR Government is working diligently to promote the concept of reducing waste at source. Its “Guidelines on Waste Reduction and Separation for Convention and Exhibition Activities” were introduced at the end of last year, encouraging the local convention and exhibition industry to go green. The 2016 MIECF will continue the practice adopted in previous years, in not covering the exhibition floor with any kind of material. Exhibitors are also encouraged to apply the concepts of reducing waste, reusing and recycling when setting up their booths. The exhibitors are also invited to participate in the “Green Booth Award” and the “Electricity Fee Rebate” programmes. The aim of the programmes is to reduce the environmental impact of waste disposal related to the event. Another notable feature in this year’s MIECF is the construction concept for the Macao Pavilion. It employs reusable and recycled materials, including for the design and lighting features of the pavilion’s façade. In addition, discarded plastic bottles were cleaned and collected as materials that form the structure of the Green Showcase’s VIP Lounge. After MIECF, the structure will be taken apart and the bottles will be distributed to charity organisations for use in educational activities or for reuse in other ways. For more information on the 2016 MIECF, please visit the official website: http://www.macaomiecf.com/miecf2016
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To further enhance Macao’s role of a Commercial and Trade Co-operation Service Platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, the Portuguese-speaking Countries Food Exhibition Center will be officially open on 31st, March 2016 in Macao. Approximately 700 kinds of products from 7 different Portuguese- speaking Countries (PSCs) will be on display in the center, with eyes and taste, visitors may experience a special food tour to PSCs and explore business opportunities. Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) is committed to implement entirely the SAR government’s policies and to actively promote the diversified development of the economy. To expand Macao’s unique advantages combining with the popularity of the cross-border e-commerce industry these years, the Portal (website: www.platformchinaplp.mo) – Economic & Trade Co-operation and Human Resources Portal Between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries was officially opened on April 1st, 2015, with the operation of IPIM under the guidance of the Ministry of Commerce and the Secretariat for Economy and Finance of the Macao SARd. The Portal offers information and services in different modules, such as Portuguese-speaking Countries Food Products Database, Bilingual Professional Service and Personnel Database, Convention and Exhibition Information, Trade and Economic Updates, Co-operation Organizations as well as Information on Legislations. 700 kinds of products from PSCs help enterprises explore business opportunities To strengthen better interaction both online and offline, the unveiling ceremony of the Portuguese-speaking Countries Food Exhibition Center located in the Tap Seac Square business center will be officially held on 31st of March, after IPIM’s full preparation. With a total area of around 4,200 square feetbeing divided into two floors, there will be for the first period 700 kinds of products on display from 7 Portuguese-speaking countries, namely Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal and East Timor. Products vary from natural foods, snack foods, canned foods, coffee, alcoholic beverages and so on and so forth. We believe that visitors can learn about more about the products if they themsives come to experience personally in the centre and it will surely help enterprises explore business opportunities. IPIM aims to optimise its mainland liaisons’ services In fact, except Macao, another Portuguese-speaking Countries Food Exhibition Center has been set up at IPIM’s Fuzhou Liaison on January 2016, which is considered to be the first in the Mainland. And IPIM will continue to find out the feasibilities to set up more in other mainland liaisons, such as Shenyang, Hangzhou, Chengdu, Guangzhou and Wuhan.
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IFT Tourism Retail and Marketing Management Year 3 students assisted, Sio Ng, a travel writer, to develop campaigns via her Facebook fan page to boost the promotion of the launch of her travel book later this year. As part of the project of their programme at IFT, students assessed the current state of the Facebook page to identify its strengths and weaknesses and later proposed ideas for improvement. Moreover, students researched several top quality Facebook pages of same nature for reference, aiming to learn from the best and to identify best practice. Through this project, students put theory into practice and gained practical experience. At the concluding part of this project, students synthesised their learning to develop and proposed to Sio Ng on how to improve her Facebook Page campaign, aiming to boost the interaction rate of Sio Ng’s Facebook page and to engage fans number and build awareness of the new travel book. Sio Ng and the course leader, Fernando Lourenço, appreciate greatly of what students have done and hope their ideas can bring positive impact to the business. Established in 1995, the Institute for Tourism Studies, Macao (IFT) offers the most extensive selection of tourism and hospitality related bachelor degree programmes in Macao, and about twenty thousand participants attend its vocational and professional training courses annually. IFT collaborates with 97 universities and tourism organisations around the world, and builds strong links with 500 leading tourism and hospitality corporations to offer internship opportunities to its students. Being the first institution accredited by the UNWTO.TedQual Certification System for tourism education, IFT has the most bachelor degree programmes certified under the System of any tertiary education establishment worldwide. IFT has received the Medal of Merit in Tourism from the Macao SAR Government, and won twice the Gold Award in ‘Education and Training’ from the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA).
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