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The 2013 Guangdong and Macao Branded Products Fair (GMBPF) was solemnly open today (1st August) at the Macau Fisherman's Wharf and will last for four consecutive days. Over the past year, the co-operation between Guangdong and Macao remained a strong momentum and the import and export volume between Guangdong and Macao and the amount of capital invested of Guangdong recorded positive growth. This fully exemplifies the favourable foundation and prospect for Guangdong and Macao's collaboration. The governments of the two regions also seek to promote the continued and practical growth of their mutual co-operation via this event. On the first day of the event, 9 protocols and 298 business matching sessions were concluded. Prior to the opening, a number of guests were led by Zhao Yufang, Vice Governor of the People's Government of Guangdong Province, Tam Pak Yuen, Secretary for Economy and Finance of the Macao SAR and Qiu Hong, Deputy Director General of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR to visit the exhibition venue, exchanged ideas with the exhibitors, and tasted some of the Guangdong and Macao food specialities. Officiating guests at the opening ceremony include Zhao Yufang, Vice Governor of the People's Government of Guangdong Province, Tam Pak Yuen, Secretary for Economy and Finance of the Macao SAR, Qiu Hong, Deputy Director General of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR, Huang Hangqian, Director-General of Department of General Affairs of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Macao SAR, Guo Yuanqiang, Director of Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation of Guangdong Province, Jackson Chang, President of Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, Ma Iao Lai, President of Macau Chamber of Commerce, Lu Xingzhou, Deputy Director of Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, the People's Government of Guangdong Province, Du Minqi, Deputy Mayor of Meizhou Municipal People's Government, Wang Sheng, Deputy Mayor of Huizhou Municipal People's Government, Feng Yurong, Deputy Mayor of Zhongshan Municipal People's Government, Wu Guojie, Deputy Mayor of Jiangmen Municipal People's Government, Li Rifang, Deputy Mayor of Yangjiang Municipal People's Government, Liang Luoyue Deputy Mayor of Maoming Municipal People's Government, Chen Xuanqun, Deputy Mayor of Zhaoqing Municipal People's Government, and Huang Zhihao, Deputy Mayor of Yunfu Municipal People's Government. Integrate Guangdong and Macao's advantages and create business opportunities for enterprises
In her address at the opening ceremony, Zhao Yufang noted that GMBPF is an important platform for economic and trade co-operation between Guangdong and Macao, and since its inception in 2009, it has continued to seek innovation and enhance its effectiveness, reputation and impact. Combining the advantages of Macao's international convention and exhibition industry and Guangdong's manufacturing industry, GMBPF not only comprehensively promotes different types of branded products from Guangdong and Macao, but also demonstrates the high-level integration between Guangdong and Macao and bring in new challenges and business opportunities for the enterprises from various places. Strengthen Guangdong and Macao co-operation and promote liberalisation of service trade between Guangdong and Macao
Secretary for Economy and Finance Tam Pak Yuen noted in his speech that in addition to fully utilising Macao's role as a world class tourism and leisure centre and regional economic and trade services platform, GMBPF also adequately promotes the co-operation and coordination between the convention and exhibition industries of the two regions and has developed into an important carrier for co-operation between Guangdong and Macao. With the favourable policies in the CEPA and the Framework Agreement on Co-operation Between Guangdong and Macao, collaboration between the two is developing steadily. He also hoped that the two regions would seize this opportunity to work together to practically explore and strengthen mutual co-operation, fully promote collaboration in economy, society and people's livelihood, with the main focus to accelerate the promotion and realise the liberalisation of service trade between Guangdong and Macao, push forward regional co-operation to a new level and realise the goal of mutual development and progress. 9 protocols and 298 business matching sessions concluded today
On the first day of the event, 298 business matching sessions and 9 protocols were concluded, including the Memorandum of Co-operation of "2014 Macau-Guangzhou Famous Products Fair", Contract on Establishing of "Veng Peng Frozen Food Processing Factory", agent and procurement intentions on different products, etc. Investors involved are from Guangzhou, Zhuhai, Foshan, Zhanjiang, Shantou, Dongguan, Macao, etc. Four concurrent events feature a wide array of activities
During the 2013 GMBPF, three events namely the "China Continental - Taiwan - Macau - Fine Food Show 2013", "Macau International Beer Festival 2013 - 2nd Beer, Wine & Spirits Expo" and "Asian Wedding Celebration Expo" are scheduled to take place in Macao concurrently. This rare opportunity is expected to create substantial synergy effects and achieve the goal of attracting customers and promoting collaboration. To provide greater convenience to the visitors to the four venues, the organizers of the four events have specially arranged free shuttle bus services at different spots in Macao and Taipa and additionally included a number of pickup points. Moreover, a circular bus route is specially launched between the Macau Fisherman's Wharf, Macau Convention Center and Macau Tower Convention & Entertainment Centre. Visitors may also enjoy three hours' complimentary parking at the parking lots of the Macau Fisherman's Wharf Convention and Exhibition Centre, Macau Convention Center and Macau Tower Convention & Entertainment Centre. An annual grand summer event welcomes all!
GMBPF features a wide variety of programmes and discount offers, in addition to a series of promotional activities, including the Grand Lucky Draw, Big Discounts on Branded Products, distribution of consumer vouchers, cultural and arts performances, singing performances by invited singers and actors from Guangdong, Hong Kong, Macao, e.g. Viviana Lo, Rico Long, Nick Ngai, Vivian Chan, etc., and other celebration performances by music and dance troupes. The organisers of GMBPF will host the Forum on Guangdong and Macao Exhibition Logistics Cooperation and Development on the second day of the event (tomorrow) at the Vic's Cafe of the Rocks Hotel at the Macao Fisherman's Wharf while GMBPF will remain open to the public. The organisers sincerely invite all business representatives from home and abroad, Macao residents and tourists to participate in this carnival-style summer event embracing business opportunities, entertainment and shopping. Opening hours are from 11am to 8pm, 2nd to 4th August (Friday to Sunday). For further details of GMBPF, please call the GMBPF hotline at (853)-87989636 or browse the official website of GMBPF at http://www.guangdongmacaofair.com.
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The 27th Macao International Music Festival (MIMF), organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau of Macao, brings 22 outstanding shows to the territory from October 2nd to November 3rd 2013. Tickets for the MIMF go on sale at 10am on August 4th, 2013, at all Kong Seng Ticketing outlets, except at the Rua Comandante Mata e Oliveira ticketing office; telephone and online bookings will be available from 12pm onwards on the same day. The organizer will distribute numbers to interested ticket buyers from 9am at ticketing outlets, in order to shorten queuing time. On the first day of ticket sales, purchases are limited to a maximum of 10 tickets per performance per person and distribution of tickets for free performances is limited to a maximum of 2 tickets per performance per person. The Festival presents a rich variety of music shows, including performances of opera, musical theatre, chamber music, jazz, choral music, Portuguese Fado and Cantonese Naamyam as well as by renowned soloists, catering to music lovers' different tastes. Early Bird discounts of 40% are available between 4 and 18 August when buying tickets for at least four different performances or when buying 10 or more tickets for the same performance as well as for Student Card and Macao Senior Citizen Card Holders. After 19 August, purchasers meeting the same conditions will still receive a 30% discount. A 20% discount is also available on tickets to any show upon presentation of a Bank of China (Macau), Banco Weng Hang (Macau), LTD., Tai Fung Bank, ICBC (Macau), BCM Bank, Luso International Banking LTD. or BNU Credit Card or a Bank of China Tri-Currency Debit Card. The MIMF has also created special offers for the public. The "Cotai Water Jet Buy 1 Get 1 Free" ferry ticket offer gives, with each purchase of two tickets for "Miss Saigon – The Musical", a voucher for Cotai Water Jet ferry tickets, valid for one free, one-way ferry ticket for sailings between Macao and Hong Kong. The "Taste & Music" dining offer allows Festival goers to enjoy a 15% dining discount at selected restaurants in Cotai Strip Resorts Macao when presenting any Festival ticket. For more information on the 27th MIMF, please consult the MIMF booklet, available at the Cultural Affairs Bureau's Building, the Tap Seac Gallery, Kong Seng Ticketing outlets, the Macao Conservatory, the Macao Central Library, the Macao Cultural Centre, the Public Information Centre, as well as at local bookstores, music stores and designated restaurants. For eco-friendly purposes, the electronic version of the booklet can be viewed and downloaded at http://www.icm.gov.mo/fimm.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the average daily wage of construction workers increased by 1.0% quarter-to-quarter to MOP603 in the second quarter of 2013, and the average daily wage of local construction workers amounted to MOP738, up by 5.6%. The average daily wage of skilled & semi-skilled workers was MOP614, an increase of 1.7% quarter-to-quarter, and that of unskilled workers was MOP379, up by 3.0%. Analysed by occupation, average daily wage of structural iron erectors amounted to MOP723, up by 11.2% quarter-to-quarter; however, average daily wage of electricians & electrical workers, and bricklayers & plasterers decreased by 4.6% and 3.8% respectively. After discounting the effect of inflation, wage index of construction workers (87.5) decreased by 1.7% quarter-to-quarter in real terms, with that of electricians & electrical workers, and bricklayers & plasterers declining by 6.0% and 5.4% respectively; wage index of local construction workers (103.3) increased by 2.8% quarter-to-quarter in real terms. As regards construction materials, average price of concrete increased continuously, amounting to MOP515 per cubic metre, an increase of 5.3% quarter-to-quarter; on the contrary, average price of spiral & round reinforcing steel bars decreased slightly by 0.6%, at MOP5,256 per tonne. The price index of construction materials for residential buildings stood at 121.1 in the second quarter of 2013, up by 1.0% quarter-to-quarter, of which the price index of concrete rose by 3.5%.
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The 27th Macao International Music Festival (MIMF), organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau of Macao, will be held from October 2nd to November 3rd 2013. The Festival has many extended programs, including Jazz-It-Up! Workshops co-organized with Jazz Club de Macau and Macao Jazz Promotion Association. Limited vacancies of the workshops are open for application from today (August 1st) to August 6th, at the lobby of the Cultural Affairs Bureau on the Tap Seac Square. The previous year's jazz programme Ain't That Swinging in Mount Fortress! successfully brought together local jazz musicians for a joint performance extravaganza, offering opportunities to local jazz musicians to learn from visiting jazz masters. The event received an enthusiastic response and garnered critical acclaim. Taking the chance of this year's Festival and continuing to cultivate more local jazz talents, the Festival has invited the renowned European jazz band Iberian Jazz All Stars to Macao. They will not only perform in the Macao International Music Festival in October, but also serve as instructors for the Jazz-It-Up! Workshops. The Jazz-it-up! Workshops run from August 8th to 31st and from October 5th to 11th and are divided into three levels, Mini Jazz, Beginning Level, and Advanced Level. The medium of delivery is English and Cantonese interpretation will be provided. Prospective students of the Beginning and Advanced Level Courses are required to attend an audition to be held on August 8th. Those of the Beginning Level should prepare a piece of music between one to three minutes; while candidates to the Advanced Level should perform two standard jazz pieces of different styles within a certain length of time. Outstanding students of the Advanced Level may be selected to become a part of the Macao Big Band for a joint performance with the Iberian Jazz All Stars in a concert in October, within the framework of the 27th MIMF. The application form and guidelines for Jazz-it-up! Workshops the can be downloaded from http://www.icm.gov.mo/fimm; applications should be delivered at the lobby of the Cultural Affairs Bureau's Building, located on the Tap Seac Square. For more information please call 8399 6609 or 8399 6622.
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Consumer Council conducted its specific price survey on cooking oil on 30th July for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12th June. Result of the mentioned survey has been uploaded to the Council's website (www.consumer.gov.mo) and is available in the Council's 'Supermarket Price Information Platform' iPhone and Android apps. For inquiry, please call the Council's hotline: 8988 9315.
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About to bring one more season to a close, the Macau Orchestra (OM) presented this year a series of classical music concerts to great acclaim. Considered one of China's current top three pianists, Chen Sa was invited by OM for its closing concert "Lingering Sound", which takes place at 8pm on Sunday, August 4th, in the Macao Cultural Centre's Grand Auditorium. Chen Sa was born in Chongqing and began her piano studies at the age of 7, revealing great talent and conquering awards from an early age. Hailed by the magazine Influence was "one of the most extraordinary contemporary pianists of China", Chen Sa became the only musician to receive awards at the Leeds, Chopin and Van Cliburn international piano competitions. The pianist has took to stages in several European countries with numerous renowned orchestras and musicians, and was described by London's Classic FM radio as "one of the brightest performers of her generation". Invited once again to perform in Macau, Chen Sa joins OM for its closing season concert. Known for her flawless Chopin interpretations, Chen Sa conquered, in 2005, the Crystal Award at the 12th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, and gained a reputation as " China's current best interpreter of Chopin". In this concert, directed by OM's Music Director and Principal Conductor, Lü Jia, Chen Sa will perform Beethoven's Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 4 in G major, op. 58, a sublime and complex work considered to be one of the composer's most singular creations. The concert "Lingering Sound", originally set to take place on July 27th, has now been rescheduled to Sunday, August 4th, at 8pm in the Macao Cultural Centre's Grand Auditorium. Those who bought tickets for July 27th and cannot attend the concert on the new date may return them at Kong Seng Ticketing Network counters until August 4th. Tickets for this concert may be purchased through the Macao Ticketing Network, or on the reservation hotline 2855 5555, at MOP 120 and 80. For more information, please visit the Macao Orchestra website at www.icm.gov.mo/om or call 2853 0782, during office hours.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the total number of licensed motor vehicles reached 220,951 at the end of June 2013, up by 5% year-on-year, of which motorcycles and light private cars accounted for 53% and 41% respectively. New registration of motor vehicles increased by 8% year-on-year to 8,994 in the first half year of 2013, with light private cars and motorcycles sharing 52% and 42% of the total. In the first half year of 2013, number of traffic accidents totalled 7,156 cases, similar to a year earlier, resulting in 2,514 victims and 10 of them were killed. Cross-border vehicle traffic by land between Macao and Mainland China reached 2,275,304 vehicle trips in the first six months of 2013, up by 6% year-on-year, of which vehicle traffic through the Border Gate accounted for 82%. Meanwhile, passenger ferry between Macao and Hong Kong and between Macao and Mainland China decreased by 1% year-on-year to 69,398 ferry trips, with those between Macao and Hong Kong accounting for 79% of the total. Commercial flight movements increased by 21% year-on-year to 21,692 in the first half year of 2013, on account of the substantial increase in flight movements to and from Mainland China; Thailand; and Taiwan, China. Helicopter flights between Macao and Hong Kong and between Macao and Mainland China totalled 8,196, down by 5% year-on-year, with those between Macao and Hong Kong accounting for 81% of the total. In the first half year of 2013, seaborne container throughput totalled 59,644 TEU, equivalent to 43,110 containers handled, up by 6% and 4% respectively year-on-year. Gross weight of seaborne containerized cargo decreased by 14% to 90,271 tonnes, with 3,084 tonnes of transshipment goods. Gross weight of containerized cargo by land dropped notably by 36% year-on-year to 10,958 tonnes, including 4,112 tonnes of transit goods. In the first half year of 2013, outward (7,130 tonnes) and inward air cargo (2,980 tonnes) fell by 12% and 8% respectively year-on-year. Transit air cargo rose by 18% to 2,391 tonnes. At the end of June 2013, number of mobile telephone users increased by 4% year-on-year to 1,532,063, whereas fixed-line telephone users decreased by 2% to 160,326. As regards internet services, number of subscribers totalled 240,952 and the cumulative duration of usage reached 386 million hours in the first half year of 2013, up by 10% and 21% respectively year-on-year.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that total merchandise export for June 2013 amounted to MOP758 million, up by 16% year-on-year, attributable to a 32% increase in re-exports (MOP594 million), but domestic exports (MOP164 million) decreased by 18%. Total merchandise import reached MOP6.63 billion, up by 16% year-on-year. Merchandise trade deficit amounted to MOP5.87 billion for June 2013. In the second quarter of 2013, total value of merchandise export (MOP2.27 billion) and merchandise import (MOP20.08 billion) increased by 15% and 16% respectively year-on-year, resulting in a trade deficit of MOP17.81 billion. In the first half year of 2013, total value of merchandise export increased by 17% year-on-year to MOP4.61 billion, of which value of re-exports (MOP3.60 billion) increased by 30%, but that of domestic exports (MOP1.01 billion) decreased by 14%. Total value of merchandise import grew by 13% to MOP38.81 billion. Merchandise trade deficit widened to MOP34.20 billion for the first half year of 2013. From January to June 2013, merchandise export to Hong Kong (MOP2.55 billion) and Mainland China (MOP779 million) increased by 29% and 24% respectively year-on-year, while export to the USA (MOP181 million) and the EU (MOP146 million) decreased by 31% and 17% respectively. In additon, exports of Non-textiles (MOP4.18 billion) expanded by 23% year-on-year, of which exports of Electronic components (MOP449 million) and Diamond & diamond jewellery (MOP358 million) surged by 91% and 130% respectively. Exports of Textiles & garments (MOP435 million) decreased by 21%, of which export of Knitted or crocheted garments (MOP142 million) declined by 38%. By country of origin, merchandise import from Mainland China (MOP12.68 billion) and the EU (MOP9.03 billion) increased by 15% and 13% respectively year-on-year in the first half year of 2013. Imports of Consumer goods rose by 18% to MOP24.76 billion, with imports of Gold jewellery (MOP4.12 billion), Watches (MOP2.91 billion), Beauty, cosmetic & skin-care products (MOP1.15 billion) and Footwear (MOP774 million) increasing by 18%, 19%, 55% and 16% respectively. External merchandise trade reached MOP43.42 billion in the first half year of 2013, up by 13% compared with MOP38.29 billion a year earlier.
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The 2013 Guangdong & Macao Branded Products Fair (GMBPF), an annual summer spectacular, will be held this year from 1 to 4 August (Thursday to Sunday) for four consecutive days at the Macau Fisherman's Wharf Convention & Exhibition Centre. The event is co-hosted by the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) and the Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Department of Guangdong Province, coordinated by the Macau Fairs & Trade Association, and specially invited as supporting agencies namely the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Trade Development Bureau of Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China. Business opportunities created by the GMBPF
The 2013 GMBPF is a carnival-style event which incorporates activities related to trade, culture, shopping, leisurely activities and entertainment. The 6,000 square meters exhibition hall is divided into the Guangdong Pavilion and Macao Pavilion, housed with numerous products for procurement including daily necessities, foodstuffs, electronic products, arts and crafts. GMBPF will continue to lend itself as well-constructed trade and economic platform for enterprises of Guangdong and Macao to explore their markets, seek for business opportunities, display their products and upgrade their business images, thereby giving further assistance to Guangdong branded products in exploring the Macao markets. High quality Guangdong & Macao enterprises and a wide array of commodities A total of 210 enterprises with 269 exhibition booths will take part in the 2013 GMBPF. Participating enterprises from Guangdong province comes from 19 different prefecture-level cities, namely, Guangzhou, Foshan, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Swatow, Heyuan, Shaoguan, Meizhou, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, Yangguang, Zanjiang, Maoming, Zhaoqing, Qingyuan, Chaozhou, Yunfu. Since GMBPF is a very important event to help boost economic and trade activities between Guangdong and Macao, therefore, the trade and economic department of the Guangdong province has placed much emphasis on it and has actively organized branded products enterprises within the Guangdong province to take part in the event. This year more than 123 enterprises will participate in the event and will setup 182 exhibition booths. Many of these enterprises are crowned either as China's Reputable Products, China's Famous Trademarks or Guangdong's Brand Products. On the other hand, the Macao enterprises showed a lineup of 87 booths, displaying products which are either 'Made in Macao", "Macao Brands" or overseas products with agents in Macao. Close trade and economic cooperation between Guangdong & Macao to mutually promote regional development Since its inception in 2009, the Guangdong-Macao Branded Products Fair is organised upon the basis of the This year more than 123 enterprises will participate quare meters exhibition hall is divided into the Guangdong Pavilion and Macao Pavilion, houseement between Guangdong and Macao"acaodong inception in 2009, the Guangdong-Macao Branded Products Fair is organis After four year's endeavor, the GMBPF has already been developed into a brand name exhibition. The two governments have gained uncountable valuable experience in promoting regional trade and economic cooperation. Four concurrent events create synergy effects, increase customer sources and maximize effectiveness
The convention & exhibition industry has been one of fastest growing new industries over the past two years in Macao and has played a vital role in promoting the moderate economic diversification of Macao. Starting this year, the IPIM has launched the "Once-Stop Service" for MICE Bidding and Support in Macao to aid local and overseas MICE organizers to host their events in Macao. During the 2013 GMBPF, three events – namely the "China Continental - Taiwan - Macau - Fine Food Show 2013", "Macau International Beer Festival 2013 - 2nd Beer, Wine & Spirits Expo" and "Asian Wedding Celebration Expo" – will be held concurrently in Macao, with IPIM as the supporting organization of the latter three events. Such a rare and special opportunity will definitely create substantial synergy effects and enable these events to work closely together to bring in more diverse customers for participating exhibitors and more comprehensively promote the products on display, thereby further promoting the attractiveness and effectiveness of the events and extending the reach of participating enterprises and business representatives in the areas of investment and procurement. In addition to increasing their attractiveness, these concurrent events which feature different themes also seek to enable to the Macao residents and tourists to experience a vibrant and lively atmosphere embracing a wide variety of contents, e.g. shopping, leisurely activities, wedding celebration, entertainment, etc.
Forum assists enterprises to understand business environment To promote the business and trade cooperation and exchange, the IPIM and the Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Department of the Guangdong Province have co-organised the "Forum on Guangdong and Macao Exhibition Logistics Cooperation and Development". The Forum will be held on the second day of the event (2 August) at the Vic's Cafe of the Rocks Hotel at the Macao Fisherman's Wharf. Representatives from the Macao convention & exhibition and logistics industries and merchants from Guangdong Province will be invited to the forum. The forum will take the form of panel discussion and keynote speakers, including Mr. Vong Kok Seng, Director of Macau Shipping and Logistics Association, Dr. Lian Zhaotong, Professor of Faculty of Business Administration, University of Macau, Mr. Liu Songping, Secretary-General of Guangdong Provincial Convention and Exhibition Industry Association, Mr. Wei Qiwei, Director of Guangdong Logistics printing office, are invited to share with the audience the newest measures in cross-border clearance and cross-border businesses. The forum will also look at the business opportunities of the two places due to the liberalization in economic and trade activities from the point of view of the commerce sector, exhibition and logistics, with a view to allow enterprises of the two sides to better understand cross-border business operations. Diversified business activities to encourage projects matching
During the Fair, several products and services promotion presentations will be conducted as a showground for products presentations, introduction of opportunities and market information in different industries. Themes of the presentations include: Classes and Use of Lingzhi, Detergents – its impact on environment and its alternatives, heath care products, bio-degradable materials, a heritage of embroidery from Swatow and its protection. To encourage Guangdong and Macao merchandisers and brand name enterprises to work with each other, GMBPF will every year invite reputable buyers and enterprises to have business matching on site where they will be provided with an all-round support services at the dedicated business matching and procurement zone. Multi-dimensional publicity and instant information Latest news of GMBPF could be obtained through different channels including the internet and apps for mobile phones. The general public will be given access to information of the event through social media such as Facebook and WeChat. For the first time, the exhibition hall will house a broadcast studio to provide live coverage of the event. As early as 2011, GMBPF has already started to use the internet as the post-event publicity platform where information of the exhibitors and photos of the products will be uploaded to the website www.guangdongmacaofair.com for an extended period of promotion. This is done with an objective to extend the function of the Fair, and to add one more promotion channel for enterprises, and to facilitate Guangdong and Macao enterprises to allow the public to search for product information of their favourite merchants. Carnival style of activities and enriched entertainments The 2013 Guangdong & Macao Branded Products Fair is an enriched programme with much-loved entertainments. Every year, many citizens and friends will take part at the Fair for shopping. To enhance the effectiveness, the Fair will offer large discounts and consumption coupons of the merchants to the patrons, not only to enhance publicity but also to allow patrons to shop happily. Adding to the fun and happiness, the Fair has arranged many fantastic arts and culture performance programmes, apart from inviting Hong Kong and Macao singers and actors, including Wong Cho Lam, Edwin Siu, Jason Chan, Alfred Hui Ting Hang, Terrence Chui, Nick Ngan and Vivian Chan to perform a number of songs, there are also dance performance, martial arts and interactive activities. The daily lucky draw, an all-time favourite, will be carried out at 5.45pm for the three days on 1, 2 and 3 August, whereas the Grand draw will be held on the fourth day (4 August) at 7.30pm. Free shuttle bus and parking lots provided for visitors To provide greater convenience to all participants and visitors to visit the four events, the organizers have specially arranged several free shuttle bus routes carrying visitors from and to the four venues at different pickup points in the Macao peninsular and Taipa island (please see attachment for further details). Visitors may also enjoy three hours' complimentary parking at the parking lots of the Macau Fisherman's Wharf Convention and Exhibition Centre, Macau Convention Center and Macau Tower Convention & Entertainment Centre. Free admission to 2013 GMBPF; All are welcome!
The 2013 GMBPF not only serves as a good platform to allow enterprises seek for business opportunities and market exploration, but also a great place to go for shopping and entertainment. We sincerely invite all walks of life, overseas merchants and tourists to take part in this annual economic and trade activities between Guangdong and Macao. Opening hours of GMBPF are from 12pm to 8pm, 1 August (Thursday); 11am to 8pm, 2 to 4 August (Friday to Sunday). For further information about the GMBPF, please call our hotline: (853)-87989636 or browse our official website of GMBPF at http://www.guangdongmacaofair.com
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the unemployment rate for April-June 2013 held stable at 1.8% in comparison with the previous period (March-May); the underemployment rate was 0.7%, down by 0.1 percentage point. Total labour force reached 364,000 and the labour force participation rate stood at 72.4%; total employment increased by 3,100 from the previous period, at 357,500, with marked increase (+8.8%) being observed in the Construction sector. Analyzed by industry, the majority were engaging in Recreational, Cultural, Gaming & Other Services (25.7%), and Hotels, Restaurants & Similar Activities (15.6%) Number of the unemployed increased by 100 from the previous period to 6,500; fresh labour force entrants searching for their first job accounted for 5.3% of the total unemployed, up by 2.3 percentage points. In the second quarter of 2013, the general unemployment rate (1.8%) and the unemployment rate of local residents (2.3%) decreased by 0.1 and 0.2 percentage points respectively quarter-to-quarter. Total labour force registered an increase of 5,400 quarter-to-quarter, with total employment soaring by 5,700 and the unemployed decreasing by 300. Median monthly employment earnings of the employed held stable as the previous quarter at MOP12,000 in the second quarter of 2013. Median monthly employment earnings of the employed residents amounted to MOP14,000, down by MOP500 quarter-to-quarter, as seasonal effect of the thirteenth month salary, bonuses etc. of the first quarter receded. Moreover, median monthly employment earnings of residents working full-time (35 hours or above per week) stayed at MOP15,000 in the second quarter of 2013.
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