News

Consumer Council conducted a price check on 8 different brands of shampoo and shower gel from 32 retail outlets on 9th July, the current survey showed that prices of the same brand of shampoo sold at different retail outlets varied. An obvious price difference was recorded for 'Dove damage Therapy intensive Repair Shampoo' (700ml), which recorded an obvious price difference of 48.61 percent, was sold at $39.70 to $59.00 in different outlets. When compared with the data collected in May, the price difference for this brand has increased by around 3 percent. As for 'VS' Sassoon Moisturizing Treatment Repair Shampoo (750ml)', the price differed for 43.64 percent, with the highest price of $79.00 and the lowest price of $55.00 recorded. For the 4 brands of shower gels surveyed, price difference for the same brand sold at different retail outlets narrowed. The highest and the lowest selling prices of 'Dove Beauty Nourishing Body Wash' (1000ml) recorded in the recent survey were $46.00 and $37.00 respectively, with a price difference of 24.32 percent. When compared with the price difference of 42.86% percent found during last survey, a drop in the price discrepancy of 18 percent was recorded this time. The Council indicates that selling prices of the same product are found to vary in different branches under the same supermarket chain stores. Consumers are advised to check with the data provided by the Council on its website (www.consumer.gov.mo) and its 'Supermarket price information platform' app for both iPhone and Android users to make price comparisons. For enquiry, please call 8988 9315.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that visitor arrivals in package tours increased by 11.7% year-on-year to 669,460 in May 2012. Visitors from Mainland China (465,923) went up by 4.9%, with 166,292 coming from Guangdong Province; besides, those from Taiwan, China (52,839); Hong Kong (33,485); and the Republic of Korea (24,941) increased by 63.2%, 28.0% and 18.5% respectively. In the first five months of 2012, visitors in package tours totalled 3,420,786, up by 30.0% year-on-year to account for 29.8% of the total visitor arrivals, higher than the 23.8% in the same period of 2011.
Outbound residents in package tours surged by 93.3% year-on-year to 34,395 in May 2012. The most popular tour itineraries were Mainland China (70.8% of total) and the Republic of Korea (12.3%), with 14,482 travelling to Guangdong Province. In the first five months of 2012, residents travelling in package tours totalled 139,096, up by 47.1% year-on-year. Meanwhile, outbound residents travelling under own arrangements using services of travel agencies increased by 23.3% year-on-year to 59,875 in May 2012; the main destinations were Mainland China (45.8% of total); Hong Kong (23.4%); and Taiwan, China (18.0%). In the first five months of 2012, residents travelling under such arrangements increased by 48.1% year-on-year to 331,819.
There were 24,117 guest rooms available at the 97 hotels and guest-houses at end-May 2012, an increase of 2,599 rooms (+12.1%) year-on-year, with those of the 5-star hotels accounting for 61.1% of the total. Hotels and guest-houses received 754,375 guests in May 2012, an increase of 9.4% year-on-year; the average length of stay decreased by 0.11 night to 1.4 nights. The average occupancy rate of hotels and guest-houses was 78.1%, down by 3.8 percentage points year-on-year; average occupancy rate of the hotels was 78.6%, with 4-star hotels leading at 81.3%. Number of guests increased by 12.7% year-on-year to 3,702,740 in the first five months of 2012; average occupancy rate of hotels and guest-houses stood at 81.9%, similar to that of the same period in 2011. From January to May 2012, visitor-guests accounted for 64.6% of the total number of overnight visitors, higher than the 61.3% in the same period of 2011.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, today exchanged views with the Governor of Yunnan Province, Mr Li Jiheng, on enhancing levels of co-operation by using the business platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries.
The meeting was held at the Santa Sancha where Mr Chui welcomed Mr Li, who led the Yunnan delegation to Macao to participate in a promotional seminar for trade and co-operation.
Mr Chui said Yunnan is one of the most important partners in the Pan Pearl River Delta, and that the two places had laid down a good foundation on co-operation in terms of trading, tourism and culture.
He believed Mr Li's presence in the Yunnan promotional seminar would further boost co-operation between the two places.
Mr Li said he was glad to see Macao's economic development and modernisation as well as the successful implementation of the "One country, two systems" principle. He also briefly introduced the latest development of Yunnan province.
He said the aims of this visit were to further open up business opportunities by using Macao's trading service platform: meanwhile he also wanted to have a better understanding of Macao's exhibition and convention development.
The Chief Executive agreed that the two places could enhance co-operation on exhibition and convention, tourism, trade in service. He also welcomed Yunnan's concept of using Macao to export and re-export her agricultural products to the Portuguese-speaking countries.
The Vice Governor of Yunnan Province, Mr Gu Chaoxi, the Secretary-General of Yunnan Provincial Government, Mr Ding Shaoxiang, the Chief-of-Cabinet of the Office of the Chief Executive, Mr Tam Chon Weng, the Secretary-General of the Executive Council, Ms O Lam, and the Advisor of the Office of the Chief Executive, Mr Fung Sio Weng and Kou Chin Hung also attended the meeting.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, is scheduled to meet with Central Government officials to discuss the building of a new passageway adjacent to the Bordergate-Gongbei checkpoint. A statement issued by the Government Spokesman Office today said Mr Chui is to lead an official delegation to Beijing on 15-17 July. During the three-day visit, the Chief Executive will meet with officials of the General Administration of Customs and General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine. Macao and Guangdong governments signed five protocols during the annual Guangdong-Macao Co-operation Joint Conference in May: both agreed that there was an urgency to build a new passageway to accommodate the growing number of cross boundary travellers. Members of the official delegations would include the Chief-of-Cabinet of the Office of the Chief Executive, Mr Tam Chon Weng, the Secretary-General of the Executive Council, Ms O Lam, the Chief-of-Cabinet of the Office of the Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Mr Wong Chan Tong, the Director of Government Information Bureau, Mr Chan Chi Ping, and the Advisor of the Office of the Chief Executive, Mr Fung Sio Weng and Kou Chin Hung. The Secretary for Public Administration and Justice, Ms Florinda Chan, will be the acting Chief Executive while Mr Chui is away.
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The Summer International Exchange Programme 2012 was jointly organised by Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT), Macao, and Dong-A University, South Korea, from 2 to 6 July in Busan, with 42 participants coming from China (including Macao and Hong Kong), Canada, Lao PDR, South Korea and United Kingdom. During the programme, participants had seminars, field trips, presentations, etc. to know the theme. The programme was well concluded by participants sharing what they had learnt and certificate presentation. Since 1998, this Summer Programme has been launched with different annual themes. It brought students from various places to Macao for cultural exchange. Starting from 2009, IFT collaborated with an overseas APETIT partner, which was an eye-opener for students. With our rich cultural heritage in Macao, the opportunity to experience other cultures is certainly beneficial to those who will step into the tourism industry in the future. This is the fourth year that IFT had the programme partnered with an institution beyond Macao. IFT strives to elevate and globalise its tourism education in the region through organising different types of exchange programmes to broaden the horizon of the students. The cultural diversity thus acquired can definitely help prepare them for their career in the tourism industry.
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Consumer Council conducted its specific price survey on canned foods on 6h July, surveying the retail prices of 11 canned food brand samples. In comparison with the data collected in May, prices of 3 canned food brands remained unchanged, while the prices of the other surveyed brands varied in different retail outlets. In the recent specific price survey on canned foods, the selling price of the same brand of canned food varied in different retail spots. The highest and lowest selling prices of "Porthos Sardines in Olive Oil (125g)" recorded in the recent survey were $10.50 and $9.00 respectively, with a percentage difference of around 16 percent. When compared with the price difference of around 50 percent found during last survey, a price drop of around 34 percent was recorded this time. For the other canned food brands surveyed, difference in prices ranged from 6.4 percent to 36.3 percent, with an obvious price discrepancy recorded on "Ma Ling Premium Ham Luncheon Meat (340g)", the highest and the lowest selling prices being recorded were $22.90 and $16.80 respectively. The latest specific price survey on canned foods is now available on the Council's website (www.consumer.gov.mo). For inquiry, please call 8988 9315.
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Submission of Works in Macau
The 18th International Postage Stamp Design Contest organized by Korea Post has begun. From now till September 20th, the Communications Museum provides collection service for local participants. The main objective is to promote stamp collection and encourage people interested in design to show their creativity by participating in this postage stamp design contest. Fabulous prizes will be awarded to the winners of the contest. The design by the Grand and Gold Prizes winners will be issued as a stamp by the Korea Post. In addition, Macau residents who submit their works through the Communications Museum and win the Grand or Gold Prizes will be granted by the Macau Post a set of free Macau-Korea round-trip air tickets to participate in the awards ceremony in Korea. The 18th International Postage Stamp Design Contest, under the themes "New Year Greetings" and "Energy Conservation", is divided into Youth Category (born after 01/01/1994) and University /General Category (born before 31/12/2012). For more information, interested participants are welcomed to visit the websites of the Korea Post and the Communications Museum: http://www.koreastamp.go.kr, http://www.koreapost.go.kr, http://macau.communications.museum.
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Mrs. Zhang Jinfeng, Deputy Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Macao SAR, and Mrs. Ao Ieong U, Deputy Director of the Identification Services Bureau of the Macao SAR, led 19 award-winning students and teachers of the first short film competition for all Macao secondary school students on "Consular Protection and Consular Services" to visit Beijing for exchange today (9th July 2012). With the guidance of the Department of Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region, the first "Consular Protection and Consular Services Promotion Week" jointly organized by the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Macao and the Identification Services Bureau of the Macao Special Administrative Region was held in November 2011. Besides, a short film competition for all Macao secondary school students on "Consular Protection and Consular Services" was held in September 2011 in advance. It helps to strengthen the knowledge of Macao youngsters on "one country, two systems", foreign affairs as well as consular protection and consular services. In addition, the outstanding award-winning students and their instructors of the above-mentioned competition are invited to visit Beijing, so as to enhance their understanding of the current national condition, economic development and consular protection business of China and, at the same time, cultivate their patriotic feelings and senses of belonging and mission towards the motherland. Under the arrangements of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Macao, the delegation will start a five-day exchange tour in Beijing. They will visit the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, attend the press conference of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, have an exchange seminar with the Foreign Ministry Spokesman of China and also conduct an interactive exchange at the High School attached to Tsinghua University. Such rich itinerary is a very unusual learning opportunity and precious experience to the students. Organizers expect that students will be benefited in various aspects for life. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Macao have been strongly supporting and intensively assisting the Special Administrative Region Government on the promotion of consular protection and consular services all the time. Moreover, they also maintain intimate cooperation with the Identification Services Bureau to safeguard the legitimate interests of Macao residents in other countries, ensuring that their personal safety and properties are well protected. Furthermore, different overseas consulates or embassies of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China have been providing timely and emergent help to Macao residents who are in difficulty in other countries.
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The three-day event, Macao Franchise Expo 2012 (MFE 2012) came to a successful end at 6PM today. Up till the closing time, the overall turnout was significantly high, up to 13,000. A total of 1,346 business matching sessions have been achieved, which resulted in the signing of 25 cooperation protocols. In her closing speech, Echo Chan, Acting President of Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, concluded that, along with the enhanced internationalization of the MFE 2012, it will gradually demonstrate Macao's important role as a regional platform in chain and franchise business. With the ever-increasing number of premium booths and professional visitors, high professionalism of the event is reflected. It has also become a career platform for young talents due to the rise in number of young participants.
According to Kevin Bi, Director General of the Association of Advertising Agents of Macao, who presented the statistics collected over the three days, a total of 1,346 on-site business matching were carried out over the period, (1,196 last year), a rise of nearly 13 % year-on-year, of which 96% was specially arranged for SMEs and business beginners. A 19% increase year-on-year has contributed to the on-site signing of 25 cooperation protocols, (21 last year), including seven agreements on catering franchise, seven on branded chain store, seven on brand sales agency, one on branding promotion and three collaborative agreements, through the negotiation center arranged by the Organizer (not counting on-site direct negotiation).
In addition, Yu Cheng Lung, Consultant of Association of Chain and Franchise Promotion, Taiwan (ACFPT), Wilson Lee, Chairman of Licensing & Franchising Association of Hong Kong, Ivan Lei, Vice Director General of Macao Chain Stores and Franchise Association, Edison Choong Wan Sern, Trade Commissioner of Consulate General of Malaysia, Kunio Otsuyama, CEO of Ad Venture Co. Ltd (Japan) and Kevin Bi, Director General of Association of Advertising Agents of Macao shared their insight and opinions concerning the development of chain and franchise business in the press briefing and appreciate the fruitful outcomes of the event.
Professional level of the event has also been enhanced at 25% reflected on the number of professional trade visitor year-on-year. Given that Macao has been acting as a portal to attract international brands and chain store operators, MFE 2012 showcased a substantial number of branded products and services both from home and abroad to strengthen exchange and collaboration. According to the figures and number of participants collected by the organizer, the event this year has achieved the desired outcomes and offered a lively ambience at the venue. According to the preliminary data collected from a survey conducted on the first two days of the event, among all visitors, 18-30 year olds (52.7%) and 31-45 year olds (32.5 %) dominated the age group. This indicates that the MFE has met its objective of creating a platform for potential young entrepreneurs to start their own business. Most of the exhibitors were highly satisfied (89.3%) and appreciate the Organizers for the overall arrangement. They also expressed their interest in returning for the event next year. The event has gradually served as a business platform to foster a broader spectrum of business opportunities for young business beginners and enterprises to explore the marketing prospect of the industry. Building upon the fruitful results and previous experiences, in line with the modest diversified economic development and the tourism retail industry, this event continues to promote local branded products on an international scale and attract more international brands to invest in Macao. MFE 20I2 was organized by Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), Brazilian Franchise Association (ABF), Association of Chain and Franchise Promotion, Taiwan (ACFPT), Macao International Brand Enterprise Commercial Association (MIBA), Macao Chain Stores and Franchise Association (MCFA) and Licensing and Franchising Association of Hong Kong (LFA), supported by China Chain Store & Franchise Association (CCFA), International Franchise Association (IFA) and Japan Franchise Association (JFA), co-organized by Korea Franchise Association, Malaysian Retailer-Chains Association, Philippine Franchise Association and Thailand Franchise Association, and coordinated by Association of Advertising Agents of Macao. The slogan this year was "Brand Expansion Continues, Business Opportunities to be seized".
"Macao Franchise Expo 2013" (MFE 20I3), is tentatively scheduled from July 12 to 14 next year and will continue to actively promote the franchising business, and collaborate with business communities both at home and abroad to create more prospective business opportunities.
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As an integral part of the Macao Franchise Expo 2012 (2012MFE), the Forum on Chain and Franchise Business Opportunities of International Brands – "International Strategy for Franchise and Chain Store Industry", held on the eve of 2012MFE (July 5), invited the senior management of franchise associations from Mainland China, New Zealand, Korea, Malaysia, Japan and Philippines to present an overview of the franchise market in their countries and share their insights on operational strategies at Macau Tower Convention and Entertainment Centre.
In her welcoming speech, Echo Chan, Acting President of Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, said that professional forums and meetings have been one of the key elements of MFE and hence three thematic forums were held respectively on the following days of the event. The participants could be inspired by experience sharing of the speakers and these in-depth discussions, and their understanding of market updates and development trends were improved. It is aimed that more practical lessons to be learnt from interactive discussions and hence helping enterprises to explore more business opportunities in the course of market expansion, she noted.
According to Chan, retail, hotels, food and beverages industries have been further developed. There have been an increasing number of world renowned brands and chain operations tapping the Macao market and seeking to expand their business by means of franchising. In the meantime, a number of Macao's local brands, Chan stressed, have started to make use of various models such as brand co-operation, chain operation and product agencies to transform and upgrade their business. They also have entered neighboring markets by establishing partnerships with the view to "go global" to s.
Themed at "International Strategy for Franchise and Chain Store Industry", the forum focused on discussing issues that local SMEs are concerned about when developing a franchise business. The forum was consisted of two sections , keynote speech delivery and panel discussion. The first section invited Ms Guo Geping, President of the China Chain Store and Franchise Association, David Foster, Chairman of Franchise Association of New Zealand Inc., Kim Yong Man, the Chairman of the Korea Franchise Association, Dato' Nelson Kwok Teng Toong JP, President of Malaysian Retailer-Chains Association, and Kyo Ito, Chairman of Franchise Committee in Japan Small and Medium Enterprise Management Consultants Association, Tokyo Branch, to be the speakers and share about industry trends of different markets. With regards to the challenges in the franchise market, Guo articulated that the ever-increasing inflation would result in a rise in operating costs and an increasing period for the return on investment. A higher risk due to the demand on product quality such as food safety also has to be taken into account. David Foster recommended all franchise operators to review local characteristics of target markets and take advantage of this to recruit new franchisees to achieve a sustainable export market. Kim Yong Man recalled that there are many things to consider when launching overseas, since the cultural differences are inevitable. It is important to select an appropriate local partner and to adapt locally, doing friendly marketing and meeting the taste of the target market in order to satisfy the taste of the consumers, he argued. Kwok Teng Toong expressed that, for a company to develop their franchise business on an international scale, it is highly recommended to devise a set of tailor-made business strategies and thoroughly evaluate its own strengths, weaknesses as well as operating conditions. In the panel discussion, the representatives of franchise industries, including Jose Magsaysay, Jr., Vice President of Philippine Franchise Association, Todd Sinelli, representative of International Franchise Association, Member of International Committee, Yoshie Shigemitsu, Director of Ajisen Ramen Head Quarters, Shigemitsu Industry Co., Ltd, and Cheung Kin Ting, Chairman of Cousin Cousin Café were invited to share their insights with the moderator - Kevin Ho, Vice Chairman of Council Board of Macao International Brand Enterprise Commercial Association. The joint discussion concerning international strategy for franchise and chain store industry was carried out in lively atmosphere. The panellists brought out several issues for discussion, including the challenges or difficulties a brand might encounter when entering overseas markets, and staff training, and how a product strikes a balance between internationalization and localization. Some speakers believe that when franchise operator desire to enter an overseas market, they are advised to coordinate with the Franchisee for a mutual understanding of product or service nature in target culture, which, on one hand fits the target market, and achieves effective promotion and market development on the other hand.
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