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Up to 6:00 p.m. on the first day (31 March) of the 2011 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Exhibition and Forum (2011 MIECF), the Organisers have arranged 243 business matching and negotiation sessions, which resulted in the signing of 14 co-operation projects. Agreements signed involved co-operation in energy saving and emission control, logistics industries and environmental-friendly villas, green vehicles financing and agency services, sewage treatment and air-purifying products, among others. Most of the protocols were signed by Macao and mainland China companies or institutions, while the other signing parties were mostly from Hong Kong, the Netherlands and Portugal. Two forums are planned for tomorrow morning, namely “Urban Planning and Eco City Development” and “Low Carbon Urban Industries: Sustainable Tourism”, and Mr. Klaus Toepler, former Deputy Secretary-General and Former United Nations Undersecretary-General and Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme will deliver his keynote address from from 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. In the afternoon, “Green Buildings: Foundations of a Low Carbon Future”, “Clean Energy & Smart Grid” and “Green Chemical Forum” will be launched. For related enquiries, please contact the MIECF Secretariat at tel. (853) 8798-8675, fax (853) 2872-7123, e-mail miecf@ipim.gov.mo or navigate the following official MIECF website: www.macaomief.com
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The Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region, Mr Chui Sai On, today delivered a welcoming speech at the opening ceremony of the 2011 Macao International Environmental Cooperation Exhibition and Forum (2011 MIECF), which was followed by a speech by the Deputy Director-General of Department of Resources Conservation and Environment Protection of the National Development and Reform Commission, Mr Wang Shancheng, on behalf of the Deputy Director of the Commission, Mr Xie Zhenhua. In his speech, Mr Wang said that the newly approved 12th Five-year Plan had elevated the roles of conserving resources and environmental protection to an even more important status. He said he believed that the organisation of this edition of MIECF in Macao would give significant importance to the promotion of green and low-carbon economy, and help address climate change. Ms Song Xiaozhi, the Deputy Director General of Department of International Cooperation and Deputy Director of Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, also gave a speech on behalf of the Minster of Environmental Protection, Mr Zhou Shengxian. Ms Song said the Central Government has elevated environmental protection to a more outstanding position over the past five years, as the pollutant emission reduction tasks were fulfilled ahead of schedule. Moreover, environmental protection had shown its growing role in optimising economic development and safeguarding and improving people's livelihood, and pollution control in key river basins and regions has been further intensified, she said. Policies, laws and regulations and the development of green science and technology had provided strong support for the development of the environmental protection undertaking, and the environmental quality had been constantly improved, she said. Mr Song said: 'The outline of the 12th Five-Year Plan has identified the need to strengthen environmental protection and promote ecological conservation by focusing on the theme of scientific development and accelerating the shift of economic development mode. 'The Chinese Government is now preparing the 12th Five-Year Plan for National Environmental Protection, which will mainly address two kinds of problems, that is, environmental problems that have adverse impact on sustainable development and environmental problems that have adverse impact on public health.' She said Macao was 'bestowed with advantages for developing into a low-carbon city, with the pillar industry being the light-duty tertiary industry. 'The Macao SAR has been a good example in and contributing to green consumption, green investment and development of green cities; it has become a model in this regard in China and even Asia. 'We hope that as a platform for business and trade services, the Macao SAR will continue providing services for the environmental cooperation between mainland China and the European Union as well as other regions, and facilitate the international cooperation on environmental protection industry,' she said. In a keynote speech entitled 'Decoupling Growth and Emissions - a Roadmap to a Prosperous Decarbonized Future', Former Vice Chancellor and Foreign Minister of Germany Mr Joschka Fischer, said it was undeniably clear that the global climate and both global and regional environments were at risk and that the earth's resources were finite. 'The solution to the challenge of global climate change is as plain as day. The only chance of improvement is to decouple economic growth from energy consumption and emissions. This must happen in the emerging countries, and even more urgently in the old industrial economies,' he said. 'The decoupling can occur only if we do away with the illusion that pollution is cost‐free. We can no longer get away with subsidising economic growth and standards of living at the expense of the global environment. Human population has simply become too large to be able to afford it. 'Doing away with this illusion requires the creation of a global emissions market – still a very distant goal… It also requires more energy efficiency, which means a reduction of waste in both energy production and consumption. 'Finally, it requires a technological and politic-economic breakthrough in favor of renewable energy, rather than a return to nuclear power or coal. 'Since the 1970s the green movement in Europe has been very clear about the two key elements in achieving the successful transformation into a sustainable or green economy: The first is comprehensive government regulation and the second is a revaluation of natural resources in market prices. And this is where politics have to find its role. 'You cannot leave it to the markets alone, this would be careless. The markets do not regard the external costs of production and the effects of non-sustainable products. That's why we need to help the markets with intelligent regulations, such as emission trading systems. And with intelligent public investments, such as China's investment in the construction of super grids for electrical power,' he said. In conclusion, he said that 'we have to enfold a dynamic of investing in renewables, in energy efficiency and new technologies,' and this investment will pay off in growth: In the short term to help achieve wealth parity between the developed and emerging economies, and tomorrow by eliminating ecological burdens to our economies and people. This is what I call an investment with a double dividend.' For related enquiries, please contact the MIECF Secretariat at tel. (853) 8798-8675, fax (853) 2872-7123, e-mail miecf@ipim.gov.mo or navigate the following official MIECF website: www.macaomief.com
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According to the monitoring data of Gamma Radiation recorded for the past 24 hours (30th March 16:01 till 31st March 16:00) by the Taipa Grande Station of the Macao Meteorological Bureau, the Gamma-ray absorbed dose rate per minute ranges between 0.1169 and 0.1344μGy/h (micro Gray / hour) which is far more below the warning level of 0.35μGy/h. The Macao Meteorological Bureau will continue to pay close attention to the radiation level in Macao. If any abnormalities being discovered, we will release related message to the public immediately and inform relevant government departments to adopt relative contingency measures.
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Macao Post announced that the postal services previously affected by earthquake in Christchurch - New Zealand have resumed as normal. However, mail delivery services (including Correspondence, Printed Matters, Small Packet, Parcel and EMS) in Christchurch may be subject to delay. Thank you for your kind attention.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the value of total merchandise export for February 2011 amounted to MOP358 million, down by 20.2% year-on-year, of which value of domestic exports (MOP114 million) and re-exports (MOP244 million) decreased by 24.4% and 18.1% respectively. Value of exports of Garment, knitted or crocheted shrank substantially by 62.8% year-on-year, while that of Tobacco & wine increased by 50.9%. Value of total merchandise import amounted to MOP3.53 billion in February 2011, up by 24.3% year-on-year. Value of imports of Capital goods surged by 71.8%, with the majority being Mobile phones. A merchandise trade deficit of MOP3.17 billion was recorded for February 2011. In the first two months of 2011, total value of merchandise export dropped by 5.1% year-on-year to MOP1.01 billion, of which value of domestic exports and re-exports declined by 0.1% and 7.7% respectively; meanwhile, total value of merchandise import rose by 32.3% to MOP8.43 billion. Merchandise trade deficit for January and February 2011 widened by 39.8% to MOP7.42 billion; the exports/imports ratio went down by 4.8 percentage points year-on-year to 12.0%. Value of merchandise export to Hong Kong (MOP468 million), Mainland China (MOP129 million) and the USA (MOP93 million) in the first two months of 2011 decreased by 0.4%, 6.1% and 33.3% respectively year-on-year; however, exports to the EU (MOP67 million) increased by 6.4%. Exports of Non-textile slid by 2.2% year-on-year to MOP806 million, with that of Jewellery decreasing by 47.2%, but exports of Clocks & watches and Tobacco & wine surging by 95.6% and 58.4% respectively; meanwhile, exports of Textile & garment declined by 14.8% to MOP208 million. In the first two months of 2011, value of merchandise import from Mainland China (MOP2.41 billion) and the EU (MOP2.24 billion) expanded by 27.0% and 55.2% respectively year-on-year. Imports of Consumer goods soared by 32.7% to MOP5.19 billion, of which imports of Food & beverages (MOP1.31 billion), Gold jewellery (MOP688 million) and Handbags & wallets (MOP441 million) increased by 32.1%, 20.9% and 79.0% respectively. Moreover, imports of Capital goods (MOP1.50 billion) and Raw materials & semi-manufactures (MOP878 million) registered year-on-year increase of 68.1% and 9.9% respectively. In January and February 2011, total value of merchandise import and export amounted to MOP9.44 billion, up by 26.9% compared with MOP7.44 billion from a year earlier.
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According to the monitoring data of Gamma Radiation recorded for the past 24 hours (30th March 10:01 till 31st March 10:00) by the Taipa Grande Station of the Macao Meteorological Bureau, the Gamma-ray absorbed dose rate per minute ranges between 0.1178 and 0.1318μGy/h (micro Gray / hour) which is far more below the warning level of 0.35μGy/h. The Macao Meteorological Bureau will continue to pay close attention to the radiation level in Macao. If any abnormalities being discovered, we will release related message to the public immediately and inform relevant government departments to adopt relative contingency measures.
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Hosted by the Macao SAR Government, the 2011 Macao International Environmental Cooperation Exhibition and Forum (2011 MIECF) opens tomorrow at the Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel tomorrow. The event will run for three from March 31 to April 2. The Chief Executive of Macao SAR, Mr Chui Sai On, will officiate at the opening ceremony and deliver a welcome speech. MIECF gathers the world's top environmental government officials, experts and academics in the field to discuss the latest environmental issues. It will be a meeting point for leading and well-known domestic and overseas exhibitors to create opportunities in the environmental business. The Deputy Director-General of Department of Resources Conservation and Environment Protection of the National Development and Reform Commission, Mr Wang Shancheng, representing the Deputy Director of the Commission, Mr Xie Zhenhua, and the Deputy Director General of Department of International Cooperation and Deputy Director of Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, Ms Song Xiaozhi, representing Mr Zhou Shengxian, the Minster of Environmental Protection, will deliver keynote addresses at the opening ceremony. Mr Joschka Fischer, Former Vice Chancellor and Foreign Minister of Germany, will also deliver a keynote speech entitled “Decoupling Growth and Emissions - a Roadmap to a Prosperous Decarbonized Future”. Keynote address by another important keynote speaker, Mr. Klaus Toepfer, Former United Nations Undersecretary-General and Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, will be presented at 11:45 a.m. on the second day (April 1). The exhibition and business matching activities of this year´s MIECF will be held over the three days. A series of activities and forums in connection with the Green Business Cooperation Day will be held in the afternoon of the first day. Other forums will take place on the second day, while the last day – April 2 (Saturday) is reserved for Green Public Day, when members of the public are welcome. This year´s MIECF will exhibit important products of the green industry, including solar energy, biomass energy, wind energy, hybrid energy systems, electric cars and hybrid vehicles, charging stations, battery and battery storage solutions, building technology, facilities management, smart grid, waste disposal, water conservation, air pollution control, noise control, project financing and consultancy. Five forums will be held on April 1, “Urban Planning and Eco City Development”, “Low Carbon Urban Industries: Sustainable Tourism” and “Green Chemical Forum” will be held in the morning, while “Green Buildings: Foundations of a Low Carbon Future” and “Clean Energy & Smart Grid” will be held in the afternoon. For related enquiries, please contact the MIECF Secretariat at tel. (853) 8798-8675, fax (853) 2872-7123, e-mail miecf@ipim.gov.mo or navigate the following official MIECF website: www.macaomief.com
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After a successful collaboration in the delivery of an executive development programme last February, Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT) teamed up again with Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL) to deliver another programme on “Value Creation for Food & Beverage” from March 29-30. The programme aim is to enhance food quality and service, as well as to examine ways to achieve a win-win situation between service providers and customers. Thirty food & beverage professionals from hotels and education organizations in Macau and Hong Kong participated in the programme. The two-day programme drew industry leaders and practitioners' attention to issues in food cost management, marketing strategies and customer expectations. Participants learnt how superior products could be created and how customer perception might be changed. Famous brands and cases were also discussed and studied. Over the two days, participants were familiarised with: - Definition of value chain - Sales approach to value creation— Capacity management
- Cost control in a successful restaurant
- Uniform system of account model for P&L
- Variable costs and fixed cost simulation
- Group reflection on KPI
- Labor control The programme was conducted by Prof. Alain Najar who has been teaching at EHL since 1992 while continuing his consultancy activities as a module leader in the executive education programmes organized by Lausanne Hospitality Consulting. Prof. Najar is an alumnus of EHL and also holds an MBA from the Business School Lausanne. His industry experience spans 13 years with Hilton International, Sheraton and the Accor group in Kuwait, Dubai, Madagascar, Syria and Egypt. The Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL), Switzerland, is the first and leading hospitality school founded in 1893. EHL provides solid hospitality management education based on the philosophy that hospitality management is both a science and an art. Its approach emphasizes not only the technique but also the culture of hospitality: the mixture of tangible and intangible elements that make up this unique industry. The establishment of this partnership expands further IFT's European connection. As one of the leading tourism and hospitality education institutions in Macao and Asia Pacific, IFT will continue to provide top-notch programmes and contribute to the sustainable development of the industry.
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Recently, citizens are asking the Identification Services Bureau for application forms for Mainland residents to reside in Macao. Thus, this bureau wishes to clarify that we do not distribute any application forms in regard to children of Macao residents in Mainland entering Macao for residence nor conduct any kind of registration. 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 Government. Therefore, children of Macao residents in Mainland must make the application to reside in Macao or enquiries at the immigration department of the Public Security Authorities in Mainland.
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According to the monitoring data of Gamma Radiation recorded for the past 24 hours (29th March 16:01 till 30th March 16:00) by the Taipa Grande Station of the Macao Meteorological Bureau, the Gamma-ray absorbed dose rate per minute ranges between 0.1178 and 0.1318μGy/h (micro Gray / hour) which is far more below the warning level of 0.35μGy/h. The Macao Meteorological Bureau will continue to pay close attention to this nuclear incident in Japan and monitor for any possible impact on Macao. If any abnormalities being discovered, we will release related message to the public immediately and inform relevant government departments to adopt relative contingency measures.
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