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Watched over by Vice President, Mr Xi Jinping, the Chief Executive Mr Chui Sai On and the Governor of Guangdong Mr Huang Huahua today signed the Guangdong-Macao Co-operation Framework Agreement in the Great Hall of People in Beijing. In a speech after the signing, Mr Chui said the sealing of the agreement exemplified the correctness and vitality of the principle of 'One Country, Two Systems' and showcased the Central Government's support and reflected the desire of Macao and Guangdong for closer partnership. According to the articles of the agreement, Macao and Guangdong would co-ordinate development of industries, fully maximise opportunities on Hengqin island and study the feasibility of sharing social and public services. With the support of the Central Government, the spirits of the agreement are included in the Twelfth Five-year Plan, and the Macao SAR Government is confident and determined to co-ordinate with the plan and implement the agreement, Mr Chui said. The Government would set up a cross-departmental working group to push forward the implementation of the agreement. Mr Chui expressed Macao's gratitude to the Central Government, related ministries and commissions and the Guangdong authorities. In his speech, Mr Huang said the agreement marked a new landmark for Guangdong-Macao co-operation and would accelerate co-operation between the province and Macao. The signing ceremony was marked by the attendance of the member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and State Councilor, Ms Liu Yandong, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and the Secretary of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee, Mr Wang Yang, Vice President of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Mr Liao Hui and Mr Ho Hau Wah, the Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Wang Guangya, the Director of the Liaison Office of the Central Government in the Macao SAR, Mr Bai Zhijian, the Deputy Secretary-General of the State Council, Mr Bi Jingquan, and a number of Macao and Guangdong officials. In a meet-the-press session after the signing ceremony, Mr Chui said Macao would work with Guangdong in setting up a Chinese medicine industrial zone in a five square kilometre industrial park on Hengqin and would consider the building of a zone for creative industry. In the next five years, Macao and Guangdong would work together and jointly develop Hengqin and Nansha of Guangzhou, he said. Mr Chui met the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and the Secretary of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee, Mr Wang Yang, after the ceremony. They exchanged views on enhancing co-operation between Guangdong and Macao.
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The seminar on “The Government Procurement System in EU”, being part of the 2nd EU-Macao Co-operation Programme in the Legal Field, will take place from March 7 to 11 (from 18:00 to 21:00), in the Lotus Room of World Trade Center located in Av. da Amizade, n.º 918, World Trade Center Macau Building, 5th floor. This seminar will be conducted in English and will feature the following keynote speakers: 1. Ms. Rita Beuter, Senior Expert, European Policies, European Institute of Public Administration, Maastricht, Netherlands; 2. Mr. Gareth Jones, Director, Sardis Consulting Ltd., Pontypridd, UK. This event is organized by the Financial Services Bureau and has about 37 participants enrolled. Among others, the seminar will cover the following subjects: 1. European public procurement: an overview
2. Principles and Rules: the Public Sector Directive 2004/18/EC
3. The Public Sector Directive 2004/18/EC
4. Electronic procurement: practical aspects
5. Electronic procurement in Europe
6. The procurement process: the practice
7. Specific policy issues in European public procurement: sustainable procurement
8. Workshop: perspectives on procurement in Macau
9. International aspects of European public procurement
10. Recent developments in European public procurement The 2nd EU-Macao Co-operation Programme in the Legal Field, extending until December 2012, which embodies this workshop, has the “Consolidation of the Macao Legal System” as its main objective. The execution of the Co-operation Programme is coordinated by the Law Reform and International Law Bureau, with the participation of several other MSAR's entities and public departments, namely, the Legal and Judicial Training Centre, the Legal Affairs Bureau, the Economic Services, the Financial Services Bureau and the Institute of European Studies of Macau.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that there were 10 institutions of higher education offering courses in the 2009/2010 academic year, 109 schools offering pre-primary, primary, secondary and vocational-technical education, with 78 within the free education system; moreover, there were 9 schools offering special education. At the end of the 2009/2010 academic year, there were 22,289 students attending higher education, up by 6.6% over the previous academic year, with local students accounting for 69.9%. Meanwhile, 73,713 students were attending pre-primary, primary and secondary education, with number of primary (25,475) and secondary (38,315) students decreased continuosly, down by 7.3% and 2.9% respectively; however, number of pre-primary students (9,923) increased by 7.0%. In addition, there were 515 students attending special education, up by 6.8%. Number of teachers in higher education totalled 1,963; teaching staff in pre-primary, primary and secondary education totalled 4,918 and 107 in special education. Teacher/student ratio in higher education was 1 to 11.4; the ratio for pre-primary, primary and secondary education was 1 to 15.0 and that for special education was 1 to 4.8. In the 2009/2010 academic year, number of higher education graduates totalled 5,433, most of them in Business and administration (35.5%) and Personal services (21.6%); number of Form Six graduates was 5,490. Coverage of the Education Survey for the 2009/2010 academic year also included 12 schools providing recurrent education, 129 establishments providing adult education and 173 private tutorial centres. There were 3,016 students attending recurrent education, up by 4.7% from the previous academic year; enrolment in adult education courses totalled 121,787, down by 5.7%. Meanwhile, a total of 5,772 students were receiving auxiliary tutorial services at 173 private tutorial centres, with 65.8% being primary students and 22.7% being secondary students. In the 2010/2011 academic year, student enrolment in higher education is 32,240 and that of pre-primary, primary and secondary education is 71,813.
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In response to the drastic request made by the “Association of Macao Permanent Resident Parents of Non-beneficial Children” this afternoon at the Headquarters of the Macao SAR Government, demanding the government to assist those non-beneficial children to reside in Macao, the SAR government reaffirms the following: 1. In pursuant to the stipulation of Article 22 of the Basic Law of the Macao SAR, Mainland residents entering Macao for residence is governed by the Central People's Government. The Central People's Government has clearly defined the principle and the scope for the settlement of “Adult Children”. There is only one arrangement, which was initiated on 1 December 2009, for “Adult Children” entering Macao for residence. No alteration is made or will be made on the arrangement. 2. The issue of “Adult Children” in Macao has reached a reasonable and complete settlement. Any Mainland relatives of Macao residents who are not within the scope of “Adult Children” specified in the “Guidance Notes on Application for Adult Children of Macao Residents in Mainland to Enter Macao for Residence” must make the application to reside in Macao according to the existing regulations of the Public Security Authority in Mainland. 3. The policy of the Central Government employs the identical standard in solving the “Adult Children” issue in the Hong Kong SAR and the Macao SAR. Other implementation details are adjusted according to the practical situation in two regions. The only difference between Hong Kong and Macao is the time of initiating the measures. The Macao SAR Government launched the Central People's Government's measures to solve the “Adult Children” issue more than one year prior to the Hong Kong SAR Government.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, arrived in Beijing today to attend the opening of the Fourth Plenary Session of the Eleventh National People's Congress, which opens on Saturday. Speaking to the press before his departure, Mr Chui said he and his Guangdong counterpart would sign the Guangdong-Macao Co-operation Framework Agreement on Sunday. The agreement would stipulate principles for future co-operation between Macao and Guangdong as well as a number of upcoming projects, including an industrial park on Hengqin island. After sealing the agreement, Macao and Guangdong officials would hold working meetings to discuss details on the setting up of a Chinese medicine industry park in the area, he said. Asked by reporters on Hong Kong decision on cash handouts to all adult permanent residents, Mr Chui said the Macao SAR Government had always paid close attention to the livelihood of the people and would introduce a series of relief measures should the annual consumer price index exceed 3 per cent.
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Tissue and toilet paper are essential to consumers' daily lives but their prices tend to fluctuate during the past few months. Consumer Council therefore conducted a specific price survey on tissue and toilet paper, surveying 11 samples in 25 different local retail spots. According to its 'Supermarket Price Survey Report', Consumer Council stated that prices of tissue and toilet paper fluctuated in the past few months. As this category of household product is essential to consumers, the Council conducted a new specific price survey on tissue and toilet paper to gather price information on the market for consumers' reference. In the current price survey report, significant price differences were observed in both 'C & S (Toilet Paper, Orange), 10 pcs' and 'Aus & New Golden Soft Tissue, 10 pcs', where price difference between the highest and lowest price amounted to over 40%; prices of other surveyed samples varied from 10 to 20%. The specific price survey report on tissue and toilet paper is now available online on the Council's official website (http://www.consumer.gov.mo). Further, Consumer Council, in collaboration with Land, Public Works and Transport Bureau (DSSOPT), published a brochure of 'Definition and Concept of Saleable Area and Saleable Ratio'. The brochure covers definition of unit gross floor area, saleable area and saleable ratio. It is now available on the Council's official website and at its two offices, Public Information Center located at Vicky Plaza (Rua do Campo), office of General Union of Neighbors Association of Macau and Macao Federation of Trade Unions. For enquiries, please call 8988 9315.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that a total of 380 MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions & Exhibitions) events were held in various venues in the fourth quarter of 2010, up by 1% year-on-year; the average duration increased from 2.1 days in the fourth quarter of 2009 to 2.7 days; number of participants and attendees totalled 220,163, down by 4% year-on-year. A total of 17 exhibitions were held in the fourth quarter of 2010, a decrease of 2 year-on-year; number of attendees decreased by 5% to 182,427; however, the average duration increased from 2.8 days to 3.5 days. Concurrently, 363 meetings & conferences were held, bringing together 37,736 participants, up by 2% and 1% year-on-year; the average duration stood at 2.7 days, an increase of 0.6 day. As regards subject of MICE events, the majority focused on Commerce, Trade & Management (167), IT & Other Technology (59), Medical & Health (33) and Banking & Finance (30). Analyzed by type, most of the events were Corporate Meetings (190), Association Meetings (70), Incentive Meeting/Travel & Others (41) and Government Meetings (40). There were 268 MICE events held in hotels, including 256 meetings & conferences and 12 exhibitions. The average duration increased from 2.5 days in the fourth quarter of 2009 to 3.3 days, drawing a total of 168,665 participants and attendees, with 86% being exhibition attendees (144,886 participants). In addition, 112 MICE events were held in convention & exhibition centres and other conference venues; the average duration stood at 1.4 days, bringing in 51,498 participants and attendees. For the whole year of 2010, a total of 1,399 MICE events were held, an increase of 184 (+15%) year-on-year. The average duration increased from 2.0 days in 2009 to 2.5 days; number of participants and attendees reached 806,135, up by 41% year-on-year. Among these events, 57 exhibitions attracted 656,303 participants and attendees; average duration extended from 3.1 days to 4.3 days. Meetings & conferences accounted for 1,342, the average duration increased from 2.0 days to 2.4 days and number of participants totalled 149,832. Analysed by subject of MICE events, the majority focused on Commerce, Trade & Management (531), IT & Other Technology (191), Banking & Finance (121) and Education & Training (120). Analyzed by type, most of the events were Corporate Meetings (617) and Association Meetings (310). In 2010, there were 897 MICE events held in hotels, up by 17% year-on-year. The average duration increased by 0.7 day to 3.1 days; number of participants and attendees surged by 148% to 527,331. Moreover, 502 MICE events were held in convention & exhibition centres and other conference venues. The average duration stood at 1.3 days and number of participants and attendees totalled 278,804.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, is to leave for Beijing tomorrow to attend the opening of the Fourth Plenary Session of the Eleventh National People's Congress on Saturday. Mr Chui and his Guangdong counterpart are scheduled to sign the Guangdong-Macao Co-operation Framework Agreement on Sunday, to be witnessed by state leaders. The Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms Florinda Chan, will be Acting Chief Executive while Mr Chui is away.
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To assist Macao in playing its role as a service platform for the co-operation of the environmental protection industry in the Mainland, European Union and Portuguese-speaking countries, a series of Green Business Co-operation Day activities will be held in the afternoon of 31 March, the first day of the 2011 International Environmental Co-operation Forum and Exhibition (MIECF). The Green Business Forum will feature two major themes, namely Exploring Green Business Market Opportunities and Opportunities in Green Sectors – E-Mobility, and invite experts in the field and senior representatives from the world's leading enterprises to explore the topics in depth. A Green Business Networking Cocktail Reception and Signing Ceremony will also be held. The Green Business Co-operation Day is jointly organised by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), AICEP Portugal Global, Macao Chamber of Commerce, American Chamber of Commerce in South China (AmCham South China), European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, European Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, American Chamber of Commerce in Macau and the European Union Business Information Programme (EUBIP). The event will be held from 2:30 pm to 6:30 pm on 31 March 2011 at the Venetian Macao-Resort Hotel. The Green Business Forum, Networking Cocktail Reception, Signing Ceremony and other related activities will also be held to assist enterprises to seize green business opportunities and seek potential partners.
Highlights of the 2011MIECF-Green Business Co-operation Day- The two themes focus on green business opportunities, exchanges and interactions. The Forum will be conducted in two sessions with keynote speakers giving in-depth speeches on Exploring Green Business Market Opportunities and Opportunities in Green Sectors - E-Mobility. Speeches will be based on environmental policies and measures, with exchanges on global environmental protection issues and emission mitigation policies. Speakers include Mr. Júlio Francisco Miranda Calha, Chairman of the Parliament Committee on Environment, Spatial Planning and Local Government of Portugal and Mr. Luiz Laurent Bloch, Undersecretary for Urban Development of the Sao Paulo Municipality of Brazil. There will also be discussions on market development trends with speakers including Mr. Liu Yanshen, Professor of East China Normal University, Chief Expert of Macau Ecological Society, Mr. Li Yuanbin, Deputy Secretary of the Guangdong Association of Environmental Protection Industry, Mr. Jin Jian, Vice President of the China Environment Service Industry Association of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, Mr. António Trindade, President of Macao Association of Environmental Protection Industry, Mr. João Marques da Cruz, Board Member of EDP Internacional (a major Portuguese-funded multi-national group), Mr. Zhou Hui, Senior Government Manager of Corporate Affairs Department, Wal-Mart (China) Investment Co., Ltd. and Mr. Renato Roldão, Chief Representative of Ecoprogresso China. World-renowned entrepreneurs are invited to give speeches to promote exchanges within the industry. This year, the Organiser introduced a new format of conducting two meeting sessions concurrently. Representatives from world leading automotive and multi-national companies will speak on fuel-cell operated vehicles and related technologies. Speakers include Mr. Manuel Sattig, Communications Manager Project, BMW AG of Munich, Mr. Nick Leach, Regional Director for Buses and Coaches in the Asia and Oceania Regions of SCANIA, Mr. Paul Lin, Senior Manager of BYD, Mr. Fabian Hess, Vice President and General Manger of E-Mobility, ABB Group (a Global 500 leading energy and automation technology company), Mr. Peres Diniz, Senior Manager of Special Projects of Companhia de Electricidade de Macau- CEM, S.A., Mr. Christian Hochfeld, Project Director of Electro-Mobility and Climate Protection, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Mr. Steve Chen, Managing Director of Halo Motor Co Ltd, as well as Mr. Ron Chung, Electric Mobility Development Manager - Strategy and Planning of CLP Power Hong Kong Limited Contracts of a series of major environmental co-operation projects will be signed at the Green Business Networking Cocktail Reception and Signing Ceremony. For further information on the Green Business Co-operation Day, please contact the 2011 MIECF Secretariat at 8798 9675, Fax: 2872 7123, email to conf@macaomiecf.com or visit the MIECF website at www.macaomiecf.com. Companies and members of the public are all welcome and places are limited. Interested parties may contact Ms. Winnie Kuok of IPIM's Research and Information Division on 8798 9127, Fax: 2872 8208 or email to winnievai@ipim.gov.mo.
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According to statistics released today by the Monetary Authority of Macao, new SME lending approved by Macao banks witnessed a decline in the second half of 2010. Concurrently, the utilisation of SME credit in proportion to the credit limit approved by banks rose from the last survey period. New Lending Approved In the second half of 2010, new SME credit limit approved by Macao banks totalled MOP8.5 billion, 17.5% down from the first half of 2010 or 3.7% down from the same period of 2009. The collateralised ratio, which indicates the proportion of credit limit with tangible assets pledged, was 63.8%, up significantly by 27.5 percentage points when compared with the first half of 2010 but down marginally by 0.6 percentage points when compared with the same period of 2009. Credit Utilisation As at end-December 2010, the outstanding value of total SME loans reached MOP24.9 billion, which represented a growth of 11.1% from end-June 2010 or 20.8% from a year earlier. When compared with end-June 2010, SME loans to “restaurants, hotels and similar activities”, “wholesale and retail trade”, “manufacturing” and “construction and public works” increased at respective rates of 56.7%, 30.3%, 10.0% and 7.2%, whereas those to “transport, warehouse and communications” dropped 8.2%. These sectors accounted for 74.7% of the total SME loans outstanding. The utilisation rate, defined as the proportion of outstanding credit balance to the credit limit granted, rose 4.8 percentage points from six months ago to 58.1%. Delinquent Loans At the end of December 2010, the outstanding balance of delinquent SME loans increased 8.9% from six months ago to MOP526.3 million. Compared to a year ago, the balance grew by 3.2%. Meanwhile, the delinquency ratio, a ratio of delinquent loans outstanding balance to total SME loans outstanding, edged down 0.04 percentage points from end-June 2010 or 0.36 percentage points from a year earlier to 2.11%.
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