News

Macao Franchise Expo (MFE) ended today (4 July), with satisfactory results. The last day of the event was open to all, so that the small and medium-sized enterprises and the general public could participate in the activities. A total of 4800 visitors were registered in the two-day event. There were altogether 883 sessions of business matchings, and 16 cooperation and franchising agreements were signed at the venue, including those related with ready-to-wear, restaurant, environmental protection and energy conservation products, mango wine, decorative lighting, mineral water, fire equipment, casual shoes, white wine and agency and sale of environmental flooring, setting-up of food technology and sale point, organizing of preparatory committee, development of environment products and others. Cooperation counterparties were from Mainland China, Macao, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Portugal, South Korea and the Philippines, amount involved exceeded 100 million Patacas. There were altogether nine professional promotion seminars and one forum, attended by over 400 persons. EIGHT MORE COOPERATIONS WERE REACHED
FURTHER STRAIGHTENING OF COOPERATION BETWEEN MACAO AND ENTERPRISES FROM MAINLAND CHINA AND ABROAD Out of the eight cooperations reached today, five were protocols, two were letters of intent and one memorandum of understand. Seven cooperations were entered into between enterprises from Macao and Zhongshan, Zhuhai, Jiangsu, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Another coperation agreement was entered into between an exhibitor from Hong Kong with another from Mainland China. Cooperation projects include: Hechi – Macao International City, entered into between Yijun Investment and Development (International) Co., Ltd., of Macao, and Huayi Lighting Company Limited, of Zhonghshan for the purchase purchase of decorative lighting products agented by Hua Hui. A letter of intent was entered into between Macao World Commercial Environmental Techonology Consultancy Centre and Taiwan T-Winner Co., Ltd. for the setting-up of a food technical research centre in Macao for the sale of Taiwan’s famous passion and chicory fiber series of products, Taiwan De Shun Group and Macao San Chai Investment Co., Ltd., to set-up franchising of Bear House Restaurants. SIGNING CEREMONY WITNESSES BY DISTINGUISHED GUESTS The second part of the signing ceremony was held at 3:30 p.m. this afternoon. Dr. Echo Chan, Executive Director of Macao Trade and Promotion Institute and concurrently Coordinator of the Macao Franchise Expo, Dra. Paula Ling Ling Hsião Yun, member of the People's Congress of the PRC and lawyer, Mr. He Jun, Director of China Chain Store & Franchise Association, Mr. Vong Kok Seng, Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of Macao Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Wu Ka I Miguel, Vice-President of Association of Property Agents and Realty Developers of Macao, Mr. Wilson Lee, President of Licensing & Franchising Association of Hong Kong, Mr. Chen Qingsheng, Vice-President of Chain Store & Franchise Association of Guangdong Province and President of the Association of Advertising Agents in Macao and Mr. Fong King Fu, Vice President of the United Association of Food and Beverage Merchants of Macaui were present at the signing ceremony. SEVERAL SESSIONS OF PROMOTION SEMINARS TO ENCOURAGE THE PMES TO SEARCH FOR BUSINESS OPPOTTNITIES In addition to the three promotions seminars held yesterday, six more franchise promotion seminars were hold today, apart from several other activities with different themes and characteristics, to encourage the PMEs to participate in different MFE franchise activities in their search for business opportunities, namely promotions of RDS Fried Chicken Secret Recipe Franchise, Chongqing Hot Pot Franchise Project, Vitality of Franchising in Macao and and Analysis of Development Strategy, etc. Besides introduction of products, several sessions were also held to share experience and sucess of franchising, potential of franchising development in Macao and development strategy. According to some of the speakers, there is a concentration of international brands in Macao, therefore, it very suitable for the PMEs to develop and operate under franchising and, furthermore, Macao has all the advantages to develop this type business cooperation model. MACAO FRANCHISE EXPO CLOSES WITH SATISFACTORY RESULTSDr. Echo Chan, Executive Director of IPIM (right fourth), Mr. He Jun, president of Association of China Chain Store & Franchise Association, (left fourth), and Mr. Vong Kok Seng, Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of Macao Chamber of Commerce witnessing the signing ceremony at the Macao Franchise Expo.
…

Macao today reported five more imported Influenza A (H1N1) cases, taking the total number of such cases to 47. At a press conference at the Influenza Response and Coordination Centre, the Health Bureau announced that the five patients comprised three Macao citizens aged 15, 19 and 23, a 20-year-old Mainlander and a 10-year-old Indonesian. Meanwhile, six patients had recovered and were discharged from hospital today. Currently 28 confirmed Influenza A (H1N1) patients were receiving treatment at the quarantine wards at Hospital Conde S. Januário, and 172 people were asked to stay home for medical observation. The Bureau also announced that it had adjusted the criteria for raising the local pandemic alert. Previously the Bureau would consider raising the alert from Level VI Blue to Level VI Yellow when the number of patients being treated at hospital at any one time exceeded 20. Now it would do so when the number exceeds 40. Since most infected patients were not seriously ill, adjusting the criteria would prevent a premature elevation of the alert, the Bureau said. The Bureau also announced that from now on some patients would be treated in their homes instead in quarantine wards of hospitals. Based on the experience of other affected regions, the number of patients would increase steadily. To reserve the capacity of the hospital for patients in serious conditions, those in fair condition and could be taken care of by their family members could receive treatment at home.
…

The First Macao Franchise Expo (MFE) was solemny inaugurated at 11:00 a.m. today (July 3), at the Macao Tower Convention & Entertainment Centre, with the participation of ninety franchisers, chain stores operators and brand agents from Macao, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, the Philippines, Japan, Malaysia, Brazil and other countries, thus establishing a solid foundation for Macau to further promote the development of franchise exhibition. The opening ceremony was presided over by the Secretary for Economy and Finance of Macao Special Administrative Region, Mr. Francis Tam Pak Yuen, Head of the Economic Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Macao Special Administrative Region, Mr. Zhou Zhi Kui, Deputy Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Macao SAR, Mr. Son Yanbin, President of Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, Dr. Lee Peng Hong, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Macao Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Hui Sai Un, Representative of the China Chain Store & Franchise Association, Mr. He Yong, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Brazilian Franchising Association, M. Ricardo Camargo, Deputy Director of Macao Economic Services Bureau, Mr. Tai Kin Yip, Deputy Director of Macao Government Tourist Office, Ms. Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of Association of Chain and Franchise Promotion, Taiwan, Mr. Yu Zhenglong and the President of Licensing & Franchising Association of Hong Kong, Mr. Li Wai Sang. A large number representatives of local and overseas exhibitors also participated in the event. At the opening ceremony, Dr. Lee Peng Hong, President of IPIM, said that “MFE will serve as a platform for the international franchisers, brand name operators and chain enterprises to develop their business in Macao and to find cooperation partners in their respective fields. At the same time, local and small and medium-sized enterprises can grasp this opportunity to diversify and innovate through this new business cooperation pattern. We hope that the PMEs will create a new busines chapter through franchising, chain store operations and brand agency”. After the inauguration ceremony, the guests visited the exhibition and seminar venues to obtain an in-depth knowledge of the Expo and received enthusiastic feedback from the the exhibitors. DIVERSIFIED CONTENT ATTRACTS CORPORATE VISITORS The venue of the Macao Franchise Expo is at the 2nd Floor of Macao Tower Convention & Entertainment Centre. This is a grand event with the active participation of several types of business activities, including cake shop, fried chicken shop, tea shop, coffee shop, dining, souvenirs, decorative lighting, ready-to-wear, hotel and cosmetics. Visitors are from all walks of life, including representatives from small and medium-sized enterprises, local residents and tourists. One of the visitors, a Mr. Lau, from Macao, said that he had visited on many occasions similar exhibitions organized by the government and that although the MFE’s scale is smaller than that of the Macao International Fair (MIF), he thought that concept of the MFE is good, as it will lead to the development of business activities for the local enterprises and create business opportunities for the pioneering entrepreneurs. An exhibitor from Malaysia said that he hope to find suitable business partners, such as agents and franchisors, and added that this brand promotion activity will get the atraction of the local enterprises. He said that he was optimistic about the local market and intends to develop his business in Macao, using the MFE as a stepping stone. The person in charge of Charmy Food Co., Ltd. “Snow Ice”, of Taiwan, Mr. Fan Rongnan, said that the successful organization of the MFE clearly proves that the government has the intention to assist the SMEs to develop their own business, as the MFE will focus to the local SMEs the successful experience from abroad and will have a positive effect. At the same time, the MFE will bring about the expansion of the business sectors and consequently enhances employment opportunity. FORUMS AND PROMOTION SEMINARS ON FRANCHISING TRENDS To promote the development of franchising, the Organizers have organized a “Branding and Franchising Seminar on Franchising Trends”, where Professor Wang Dadong of Zhuhai Campus of Beijing Normal University, Mr. Yu Cheng-lung, Vice-Chairman of Association of Chain and Franchise Promotion, Taiwan, Ms. Margaret Wong, founder of Café e Nata Margaret’s, and Mr. Fang Rongnan, General Manager of Charmy Food Co., Ltd., of Taiwan, talked about the latest trends in franchising and shared their opinion with the audience. Simultaneously, from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m., three professional products and service promotion seminars were held, namely: “Choose Hanting – Choose Success”, “Brief Introduction of Wufangzhai Industry’s Franchise Projects” and “Franchising with Small Capital”, in which the exhibitors promoted their own products or services and provided further information to the interested parties. EIGHT COOPERATIONS REACHED ON THE FIRST DAY Altogether, eight contracts, letters of intention and agreements were signed on the first day. In addition, over three hundred business matching sessions were held. Respective signing ceremony took place in the afternoon, witnessed by Dr. Lee Peng Hong, President of IPIM, Dr. Echo Chan, Executive Director of IPIM, Mr. U Kin Cho, Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of Macao Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Yu Cheng-Lung, Vice-Chairman of Association of Chain and Franchise Promotion, Taiwan. The cooperation agreements signed involved the franchising of Korea’s “Instory” fashionable ladies’ clothes in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, franchising of environmental protection and energy conservation products in the Portuguese-speaking countries, Southeast Asian countries and Macao, general agent in Macao for Hua Yi LED and lighting; Macao agent for ZFE, Zhenhui and Zelda brands fire equipment, Macao agent for Paradise brand Mango Rum, from the Philippines, promotion, sale and agent in Macao and Guangdong Province for Tianchi Mineral Water; letter of intent in the co-organization of the “Macau Decorative Lighting Carnival”, cooperation agreement for agent in Guangdong, Shanghai and Shenyang, China, for “Olá” products. Macao Franchise Expo will close on July 4. MFE, located at the 2nd floor of Macao Tower Convention & Entertainment Centre, will be opened to the public from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. tomorrow, with six products and services promotion seminars on franchising in the ready-to-wear, foodstuff and hot pot shop business. At 3:30 p.m. there will be another signing ceremony, where local and foreign small and medium-sized enterpreneurs, local residents are welcome. For further details, please visit the official site: www.macaomfe.mo.
…

Macau Tourism Promotion and Information Center in Portugal was distinguished with the award of Best Foreign Tourism Representative Office in 2008 by Publituris Awards, organized by the oldest professional tourism publication in Portugal. The winners were announced in a tourism gala held Thursday evening at the historic St Jorge’s Castle in Lisbon. The head of the Macau Economic and Trade Representative Office in Lisbon Raimundo do Rosário and the coordinator of Macau Tourism Promotion & Information Center in Portugal Rodolfo Faustino received the award. With more than 30 categories and involving 180 plus companies or entities in the competition the Publituris Awards distinguish every year the best companies, professionals and services in the tourism sector in Portugal. The selection of the nominees follows several criteria, such as pro-activity in communication, innovation and professionalism, based on an analysis on news published in 2008 by Publituris and other tourism publications. Following an initial nomination stage conducted by the editorial staff of Publituris, six companies and institutions are selected per category and then voted on-line. The three most voted entities are presented to a panel of jury, composed of tourism related personalities, for final selection. Publituris Awards aim to encourage and recognize the role and importance that each of the nominees represents to tourism in Portugal.
…

The Health Bureau today reported one locally infected and seven imported Influenza A (H1N1) cases, bringing the total number of such cases to 42. At a press conference at the Influenza Response and Coordination Centre, the Bureau announced that the local case was a 19-year-old postman, whose brother was confirmed to have the virus on 30 June. The postman fell ill yesterday and was tested positive. Since he had not left Macao in the preceding seven days, he was thus classified as a locally infected case. The seven imported cases involved four Macao citizens, aged between 12 and 43, and three women -- an 18-year-old Australian, a 26-year-old Filipina, and a 51-year-old from Hong Kong. They were admitted to Hospital Conde S. Januário. Another patient had recovered from the disease and was discharged from hospital today. Currently 24 confirmed Influenza A (H1N1) patients were receiving treatment at the quarantine wards at Hospital Conde S. Januário, and 120 people were asked to stay home for medical observation. The Bureau urged all companies, organisations, institutions and individuals to adhere to their issued guidelines and keep good personal hygiene. Macao’s pandemic alert remained at Level VI, Blue, which indicated that there were no fatal cases and the spread of the virus was moderate.
…

The Health Bureau today reported three locally infected and three imported Influenza A (H1N1) cases, bringing the total number of such cases to 34. At a press conference at the Influenza Response and Coordination Centre, the Health Bureau announced that the patients in the three locally infected cases had contact with the 26th confirmed patient. A 10-year-old schoolgirl in the same class as the 26th confirmed patient went to school on the morning of 25 June. She fell ill on 28 June and was tested positive for the virus yesterday. The Health Bureau had been tracing the health condition of the students of the class and found no other new cases by far. Two boys, aged seven and eight, who played group games at a church with the 26th confirmed patient on 27 June, fell ill in the next two days. They were both tested positive for the virus yesterday. The three newly confirmed patients had not travelled abroad in the preceding seven days before they showed flu symptoms, and were thus classified as locally infected cases. The Bureau also announced three imported cases, which involved two Macao citizens, aged eight and 14 years old, and an Australian aged 20. The Bureau also announced that four patients were discharged from hospital today after recovering from the disease. Currently there were 17 confirmed Influenza A (H1N1) patients receiving treatment at the quarantine wards at Hospital Conde S. Januário, and 108 people were asked to stay home for medical observation. Macao’s pandemic alert remained at Level VI, Blue, which indicated no fatal cases and no more than 20 patients were being treated at hospital at any one time.
…

The Inter-departmental Working Group Against “Illegal Guesthouses” launched today (July 1) a promotional campaign to raise awareness of residents and visitors of the potential hazards of staying in illegal accommodation. The first phase of the campaign includes posters against illegal accommodation and a hotline service for related complaints. As of June 24, the Working Group has conducted 28 joint inspections to crack down on illegal accommodation. The Working Group met today to review the progress of work and operations carried out so far, as well as to finalize preparations for the campaign. This was followed by a meeting with representatives of the General Union of Neighbors Association of Macau, who were invited to assist in publicizing the campaign against illegal accommodation. The Working Group pointed out that amendments on existing legislation are necessary to put an end to the problem of illegal accommodation. While the legislation for the issue is in an advanced stage of revision, the related governmental departments will continue to take enforcement actions to crack down on illegal accommodation. The campaign launched by the Working Group today, which includes posters distribution and reinforcing Tourism Hotline 28333000 for the reporting on any illegal accommodation cases, seeks to promote awareness among visitors and residents of the problem of illegal accommodation. As of June 24, 2009, the Working Group has carried out 28 joint inspections to combat illegal accommodation. Among the 162 apartments involved, the Working Group could not gain access to 117 apartments while 23 cases were recorded for legal action and 22 were proven to be normal residences. The involved departments echoed that the major obstacle for the inspections was the difficulty to gain access to the suspected apartments. Furthermore, inadequate legal backing and authority to follow up directly with the irregularities were difficulties encountered by the Working Group. Without relevant legal support, the departments were not able to prosecute irregularities that are hazardous to personal and property safety, public health and hygiene, fire safety and environmental conditions detected on site. The Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) and related departments are working on the amendment of the Decree Law No. 16/96/M (regulation applicable to hotels and similar activities). Amendments to the regulations include, among other clauses, the establishment of a category of illegal activities to characterize illegal accommodation, authorizing inspectors access to the “ suspected apartments”, defining the responsible person who should answer for and bear charges for the irregularities. The Working Group was invited by the General Union of Neighbors Association of Macau to take part in a community forum on the problem of illegal accommodation on June 6. Members of the Inter-departmental Working Group Against “Illegal Guesthouses” include the Cabinet of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Macau Government Tourist Office, Public Security Police Force, Land, Public Works and Transport Bureau, Legal Affairs Bureau, Financial Service Bureau, Labor Affairs Bureau, Macau Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, Fire Service Bureau, Health Bureau, Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau and Environmental Protection Bureau.
…

Macao reported seven locally infected Influenza A (H1N1) cases today, which involved five three-year-old children from the same crèche and two of their parents. The Influenza Response and Coordination Centre announced at a press conference today that the five kids – four girls and a boy – developed flu symptoms between 25 and 29 June and were all tested positive for the virus today. The Health Bureau ordered the crèche to suspend services and prescribe medication to the classmates of the infected children. A 39-year-old woman, who was the mother of one of the infected girls and worked as a pediatrician of Hospital Conde S. Januário, was also infected. She developed flu symptoms on Sunday and was tested positive for the virus yesterday evening. The other infected parent was a 33-year-old woman who worked as a doctor of a private medical services centre. She developed flu symptoms yesterday and was tested positive for the virus today after bringing her daughter to Hospital Conde S. Januário. The Health Bureau acknowledged that this was the first community outbreak in Macao, which indicated that the virus had been brought into the community. The health authorities would gradually shift its focus to treating infected patients and people with higher risks of infection. The Bureau also reported one imported case, which involved a 12-year-old Macao resident. He visited Hong Kong from 15 to 23 June and developed cough on 24 June, fever on 29 June, and was tested positive for the virus on the same day. In the meantime, he attended classes at a tutorial centre and a school, as well as church services at a church. The Health Bureau had been tracing his close contact persons from the tutorial centre, school and church. The Bureau also announced that five patients were discharged from hospital today after recovering from the disease. Currently there were 14 confirmed Influenza A (H1N1) patients receiving treatment at the quarantine wards at Hospital Conde S. Januário. Ninety-two people were asked to stay home for medical observation. Macao’s pandemic alert remained at Level VI, Blue, which indicated no fatal cases and no more than 20 patients were being treated at hospital at one time.
…

In view of the passage of Typhoon Hagupit in September last year brought extensive flooding to many areas in Macao, starting from April this year, the Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau (SMG) established a new warning system namely “Storm Surge Warning”, aiming to forecast any significant flooding due to tropical cyclone. As the typhoon season is approaching, a media briefing was held on 30th June, 2009, at 11:00 am at the SMG Hall. Presence in the briefing were the SMG Director Dr. Fong Soi Kun, the Deputy Director Mr. António Viseu and the Chief of the Meteorological Divison Ms. Leong Ka Cheng. During the briefing a detailed introduction of the “Storm Surge Warning” system was presented in order to enhance citizen’s knowledge about it. The “Storm Surge Warning” is issued in accordance with the forecast of the levels of flooding associated with tropical cyclones. The warning is classified into 3 degrees: the 1st degree (Yellow) – the water level is expected to be below 0.5 meter above road level; the 2nd degree (Red) – the water level is expected to be 0.5 to 1 meter from road level; the 3rd degree (Black) – the water level is expected to be above 1 meter from road level (All the figures in these warnings are referred to the road level of Porto Interior). When flooding is forecasted during the storm surge event, SMG will issue the relative warning 6 to 12 hours prior to the occurrence of the flooding, allowing citizens to take appropriate precautionary measures in time. In the aftermath of the Typhoon Hagupit, SMG immediately study the current flood forecast mechanism, as well as to discuss with other government departments and representatives of associations in order to collect opinions for the improvement of warnings. SMG carefully assessed their suggestions and established the new “Storm Surge Warning” system, hoping that citizens are able to recognize the flooding news more effectively and adopt suitable precautionary measures. A site-visit of the “Water Level and Tide Monitoring Network Central System” at SMG was arranged after the media briefing. Aside from SMG, the said monitoring station was designed and set up jointly with several government departments, including the Land, Public Works and Transport Bureau, the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, the Maritime Bureau and the Cartography and Cadastre Bureau. There are 3 types of stations: the land station, the tide station and the wave station. All the data from these stations will be collected by SMG and to distribute to other government departments afterwards. In Macau there are totally 9 land stations, 2 tide stations and 1 wave station, which are used to monitor the height of the water level, the tide level and the wave respectively.
…

Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the value of total exports of goods amounted to MOP570 million in May 2009, down by 65.7% year-on-year, with the value of domestic exports falling sharply by 75.2% to MOP242 million and that of re-exports dropping by 52.1% to MOP328 million. The value of total imports of goods amounted to MOP2.84 billion, down by 22.1% year-on-year. A trade deficit of MOP2.27 billion was recorded for May 2009. From January to May 2009, total exports of goods fell by 53.3% year-on-year to MOP3.28 billion, with the value of domestic exports and re-exports declining by 67.5% and 29.9% respectively. Meanwhile, total imports of goods slid by 21.6% to MOP13.99 billion, and the trade deficit for the first five months of 2009 narrowed by 1.0% to MOP10.71 billion. The exports/imports ratio went down by 15.9 percentage points year-on-year to 23.4%. Analysed by destination of Macao’s exports, in the first five months of 2009, the value of merchandise exports to the USA, the EU and Mainland China decreased by 76.2%, 58.4% and 42.7% respectively year-on-year. The value of Textile & garment exports declined by 69.3% year-on-year to account for 38.9% of the total exports of goods; meanwhile, the value of Non-textile exports dropped by 30.1%. Regarding the country of origin of imported goods, the value of imports from Mainland China dropped by 43.0% year-on-year, but that from the EU rose by 5.6%. The value of imports of all broad economic categories registered year-on-year decreases, of which Raw materials & semi-manufactures dropped by 45.2% and Fuels & lubricants fell by 26.0%; meanwhile, the value of imports of Consumer goods recorded a slower decrease of 7.2%, with that of Food & beverages rising by 10.0%.
…