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Macao logged two more imported Influenza A (H1N1) cases today, adding the total number of imported cases to five. Macao’s fourth confirmed case, a 61-year-old Filipina, was a security guard working at Macau International Airport. She visited the Philippines from 8 to 18 June and developed symptoms of sore throat and fever the next two days. She sought medical attention at hospital on 21 June and was tested positive for the virus today. The Health Bureau had arranged tests and medical observation for three people who lived with her and began tracing the close contact persons of the patient. The fifth confirmed case, a 21-year-old female university student, visited Thailand with 10 classmates for graduation trip from 15 to 19 June. She attended a graduation dinner on 20 June and sought medical attention at hospital the next day after developed symptoms of fever, cough and sore throat, and was tested positive for the virus today. Her mother was identified as a close contact person and was required to undergo medical attention. Her classmates that visited Thailand with her were urged to stay at home and pay attention to the health condition. As of today, there were five confirmed imported cases of Influenza A (H1N1).
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The Health Bureau announced today that two more imported Influenza A (H1N1) cases were confirmed, taking the total number of imported cases to three. The second case was a 27-year-old woman who became the first Macao resident infected with the virus. She is a flight attendant who had visited Sydney, Jakarta, Hong Kong and Japan between 6 to 17 June. She sought medical attention at Hospital Conde S. Januário yesterday after having fever, running nose and cough, and was tested positive for the virus. A second test conducted today confirmed the test result. She was treated at the quarantine ward at Hospital Conde S. Januário and was in a fair condition. Her husband was tested negative for the virus, but was required to undergo medical observation. The third case is a 54-year-old man, a Macao resident who visited Toronto from 10 to 17 June and suffered from fever, headache and sore throat yesterday. He sought medical attention yesterday at Kiang Wu Hospital and was confirmed as having contracted the virus after two tests. He had been transferred to a quarantine ward at Hospital Conde S. Januário and was in a fair condition. His wife and his domestic helper were required to undergo medical observation. As of today, there were three confirmed imported cases of Influenza A (H1N1) in Macao.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that the total number of visitor and non-resident arrivals was 2,205,208 in May 2009. Affected by the adverse impact of the human swine influenza pandemic, visitor arrivals for May 2009 dropped by 20.4% year-on-year to 1,591,500. Analysed by place of residence, visitors from Mainland China were 791,394 (49.7% of total visitor arrivals), a year-on-year decrease of 26.8%, with 316,111 travelling to Macao under the Individual Visit Scheme, down drastically by 50.9% from May 2008 (644,051). Visitors from Hong Kong (489,129); Taiwan, China (97,976); Malaysia (26,730) and Japan (26,355) also decreased by 8.8%, 12.3%, 42.3% and 9.9% respectively. Same-day visitors (883,559) accounted for 55.5% of the total visitor arrivals, with 457,502 coming from Mainland China. The cumulative visitor arrivals totalled 8,912,874 in the first five months of 2009, down by 10.6% year-on-year. Visitors from Mainland China (4,447,039); Taiwan, China (528,171) and Malaysia (136,142) decreased by 16.6%, 5.8% and 30.3%, while those from Hong Kong (2,834,335) and Japan (150,290) registered slight increase of 0.4% and 8.8% respectively. Cumulative number of same-day visitors accounted for 53.8% of the total visitor arrivals, at 4,791,977. Analysed by mode of transport, visitor arrivals by sea totalled 3,640,617 in the first five months of 2009, down by 2.5% year-on-year. Visitors arriving at the Outer Harbour decreased by 25.8% to 2,482,693, but those arriving at the Provisional Ferry Terminal in Taipa surged by 405.0% to 1,030,868. Visitor arrivals by land dropped by 16.4% year-on-year to 4,627,706 in the first five months of 2009; those arriving through the Border Gate totalled 4,292,081 and the majority were visitors from Mainland China (76.0%) and Hong Kong (15.6%). Visitor arrivals by air went down by 8.2% year-on-year to 644,551 in the first five months of 2009. Visitors arriving at the Macao International Airport decreased by 8.0% to 633,396, with the majority coming from Taiwan, China (38.2%) and Mainland China (23.8%).
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the Composite CPI for May 2009 rose by 1.82% year-on-year to 125.60, of which the price indices of Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco; Clothing & Footwear; and Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages went up by 14.26%, 11.51% and 6.55% respectively. Among the subgroups of Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco, price index of cigarettes soared by 19.39% following the increase of excise on tobacco. As regrards Clothing & Footwear, price indices of women’s clothing (+9.43%) and women’s footwear (+17.98%) registered marked increase. For the subgroups of Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages, notable increase was observed in the price indices of fresh fish (+28.75%) and fruit (+15.72%). On the contrary, price index of Transport registered a year-on-year decrease of 11.14% on account of falling prices of gasoline. The CPI-A and CPI-B for May 2009 were 127.43 and 125.10 respectively, up by 1.93% and 1.84% year-on-year. The Composite CPI for May 2009 increased by 0.17% month-to-month, attributable to the 13.57% increase in the price index of Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco. However, decreasing rentals for housing drove down the price index of Housing & Fuels by 0.91%. The CPI-A and CPI-B rose by 0.14% and 0.19% respectively month-to-month. The average Composite CPI for the first five months of 2009 went up by 2.83% year-on-year. For the 12 months ended May 2009, increment of the average Composite CPI tapered to rise by 5.98% from the preceding period. The Composite CPI reflects the impact of price changes on the general population. The CPI-A relates to about 49% of households, which have an average monthly expenditure of MOP3,000 to MOP9,999. The CPI-B relates to about 31% of households, which have an average monthly expenditure of MOP10,000 to MOP19,999.
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In response to the invitation from the Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation of Guangdong Province, the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) organized a business delegation, comprising approximately of 50 entrepreneurs, and led by its President Mr. Lee Peng Hong, to participate in the 1st “Guangdong Foreign-Invested Enterprises Commodities Fair” (FECF) in Dongguan, held on June 17th to 18th. The purpose of the “FECF” was mainly to facilitate cooperation between Guangdong and enterprises with foreign investments to overcome the international financial crisis, help foreign-funded enterprises expand within the domestic market in Guangdong, increase internal demand and secure a stable growth rate. This Fair also aimed at stimulating the domestic consumer market, promoting domestic and foreign exchanges, thus improving market competitiveness. The Fair helped to expand domestic demand, encourage investment from foreign-invested enterprises, and aimed mainly to improve cooperation between manufacturers for exports and those for domestic markets. It also created opportunities for foreign enterprises to develop within the domestic market and invest in Guangdong, to overcome the difficulties arising from the international financial crisis. IPIM set up a “Macao Pavilion” in the FECF, with an area of 216 square meters (24 standard booths), comprising of 20 Macao enterprises with investments in Guangdong, involved in different sectors such as clothing, furniture, houseware, leather goods, plastic packaging, gifts and food industries. During the Fair, update information about the investment environment in Macao, along with the services provided by IPIM were provided. Mr. Wang Yang, Secretary of the Guangdong Committee of the Communist Party of China; Huang Hua-Hua, Governor of Guangdong; Yi Xiao-Zhun, Vice Minister of Ministry of Commerce of PRC; Wan Qing-Liang, Vice Governor of Guangdong, and Tang Bing-Quan, Vice-Chairman of Guangdong Provincial People's Political Consultative Conference, all visited the "Macao Pavilion" on the opening day of the fair. IPIM and the Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation of Guangdong Province signed a "Strategic Cooperation Agreement to aid Macao Enterprises to develop the Domestic Market" during the opening ceremony of the FECF. The purpose of this agreement is to help Macao-funded enterprises develop within the domestic market of Guangdong, expand economic and trade cooperation between Guangdong and Macao, as well as enhance the competitiveness of both enterprises from Guangdong and from Macao in both domestic and international markets. Moreover, during the "Procurement Matching Session", IPIM assisted in arranging a total of 102 business matches, relating to different sectors, such as clothing, leather goods, wine, food (biscuits and concentrated drinks), ceramics and furniture. The main purchasers during the “Procurement Matching Session” included companies such as Carrefour, Wal-Mart, Grandbuy Co Ltd, Best Buy, Park'n Shop (Greater China) and the Dongshan Department Store. In addition to the " Strategic Cooperation Agreement to aid Macao Enterprises to develop the Domestic Market " which was signed on the morning of June 18th, IPIM also assisted "Kam Yuen Macao Offshore Services Ltd." and "Heshan Guoji Nanlian Motorcycle Industry Co Ltd." in the signing of a Letter of Intent for the acquisition of motorcycles, with a deal worth of approximately 2.98 million U.S. dollars (approximately 23.1 million patacas). In the afternoon of June 17th, 2009, Wan Qing-Liang, Vice governor of the Province of Guangdong met with Mr Lee Peng-Hong, president of IPIM and the Macao business delegation. Mr. Wan pointed out that in accordance with the guidelines provided by the “Reform of the Pearl River Delta Regional Cooperation Framework”, Guangdong and Macao jointly organized the “FECF” and will organize the "Guangdong & Macao Branded Products Fair 2009" (July 30-August 2). The two places will further organize business delegations from both Guangdong and Macao to participate in the "Entrepreneurial Seminar for Commercial and Economic Co-operation Between China and Portuguese Speaking Countries”, which will be held in mid-August in Brazil. At the same time, they will also cooperate with São Paulo Chamber of Commerce, Brazil in organizing the "Guangdong and Macao Investment Environment Promotion Seminar". All these initiatives will help promote and strengthen cooperation between Guangdong and Macao. They also reflect the communication, as well as the development of economic and trade cooperation between the two places. These initiatives will also provide more opportunities for Macao-funded companies invested in Guangdong to explore more business opportunities. Other participants in the Fair included Mr. Kao Sheung Te, Deputy Director of the Economic Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government; Chui Iok Lam, Vice-chairman of the Industrial Association of Macao and Wang kai Cheong, Chairman of the Association of Weaving & Knitting Industry of Macao.
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The “Catalogue Show of Philippine Products and Services, jointly organized by the Consulate General of the Philippines in Macao, Department of Trade and Industry of the Philippines (DTI) and Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), will be held from 23 to 26 June 2009 at IPIM’s Macao Business Support Centre (Alameda Dr. Carlos d'Assumpçao No. 263, Edif. China Civil Plaza, 19 Andar, Macau). The Show is going to be first of the country-themed catalogue show series launched by IPIM. In accord with a soft opening of the Show on 23 June, a delegation of Philippine enterprises to join the series of concurrent activities, including business seminar, business matching, networking session, and technical site visits. It is aimed that the Show should help foster trade relations between Philippine and Macao enterprises and broaden prospects for future cooperation. The Philippines is one of the founding ASEAN members and has developed a close relationship with Macao in areas of trade, culture and human resource provision. Bilateral trade has grown significantly, recording annual average increases of 13.6% and 43.5% of exports and imports respectively to Macao from 2000 to 2008. Trade figures have grown intensively. According to statistical data, total import value from the Philippines reached 57.7 million last year, with a majority of agricultural products and fruits, of which include bananas mangos, pineapples tobacco, malt and cereal, etc. While featuring an collection of over 30 types of pamphlets of Philippine brands and companies, including investment and travel guides, MICE information, catalogues of food and beverages, agriculture and logistic services, there will also be a series of concurrent activities throughout the Philippine Catalogue Show. Through the joint efforts of Philippine Consulate General in Macao and IPIM, representatives from DTI and other investment promotion departments are invited to present on Philippine business opportunities. A delegation of Cebu entrepreneurs (including representatives from food and fruit trading, supermarket and department store retailing, logistics, real estate and furniture manufacturing) will also participate in a business matching and networking session with local enterprises. Interested parties and local SMEs in search for partners or distribution rights from the Philippines are cordially invited to visit the Show and join the above activities. For detailed information about the Show, please contact Ms Leong of Small and Medium Enterprise Service Centre (Tel: 28728212) or visit IPIM’s website www.ipim.gov.mo and Macao Trade and Invest Kiosk.
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The Government would consider closing kindergartens, primary and secondary schools should Macao raises its pandemic alert to Level VI. Macao maintained its pandemic alert at level V since there were no local transmissions of Influenza A (H1N1) virus. The Co-ordination Centre for Preparedness and Response to Influenza Pandemic announced this today, after the World Health Organization (WHO) raised its influenza pandemic alert to Phase 6. Director of the Health Bureau, Dr Lei Chin Ion, said according to the evaluation of WHO, the severity of the current influenza pandemic was mild and many patients did not require hospitalisation or medication. He said it would be difficult to prevent Influenza A (H1N1) in Macao and the Government would make all the necessary preparations for mass infection. The Government would continue to purchase vaccine for seasonal flu, Influenza A (H1N1) and Streptococcus pneumoniae. The Director of Education and Youth Affairs Bureau, Mr Sou Chio Fai, said the Government would consider closing all kindergartens, primary and secondary schools should there be locally contracted cases or if Macao raises its pandemic alert to Level VI. Summer activities and summer classes would also be halted then, he said. The Director of Social Welfare Bureau, Mr Ip Peng Kin, said all social services institutions subsidised by the Government had formulated plans to face the pandemic. The Government would maintain the services of childcare services centres, taking into consideration the needs of some families, he said.
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An Association Executive Seminar tailored for local association leaders was held at the Four Seasons Macao Hotel by the Macau Business Tourism Centre (MBTC) of Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) today, with featured speakers Mr Gary Grimmer and Mr. Mike Williams. Gary and Mike are MICE industry specialists who provide consultation services to MGTO/MBTC for the development of international convention and incentive business. This is the third seminar that MGTO/MBTC has organized in Hong Kong and Macau since its establishment in 2006. The Association Executive Seminar is a partnership program between the MGTO/MBTC and professional associations in Macau and Hong Kong, which provides an educational opportunity for association leaders who are responsible for, or can influence decisions about bringing one of their national, regional or global congress to Macau, as well as how to bid, host and manage the event. More importantly, participants learn more about how MGTO/MBTC can help them through all the stages of the bid process. The event was a new initiative of the MGTO/MBTC in line with its mission, which is to facilitate the development of the business tourism industry in Macau. During these uncertain times, brought on by the current global economical downturn, it is a key strategy to keep focusing on the high potential of Macau as a business tourism destination. A key to Macau’s success as a business tourism destination lies on how the government and industry can collaborate to promote, secure and service MICE events. The seminar attracted major local association leaders and was followed by a networking luncheon, where they were joined by 110 industry partners invited by the MGTO/MBTC. Since the commencement of the Macau Business Tourism Centre in 2006, MGTO has been strengthening its effort to develop and position Macau as one of the premier MICE destinations in Asia. Benefiting not only the local industry, professional training opportunities are also available for the region from time to time with emphasis on successful development through regional cooperation. In addition, with the debut of the ‘Industry Partner Program’ in October last year and the ‘Strategic MICE Market Stimulation Program’ announced recently, it is anticipated that more business tourism partners will benefit from the increase in promotional efforts of MGTO/MBTC, targeting the high yield MICE market.
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The Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) released results of the Survey on Manpower Needs and Wages for the first quarter of 2009. Survey coverage comprised Manufacturing; Hotels & Restaurants; Financial; and Electricity, Gas & Water Supply sectors, but excluded own-account workers, as well as insurance agents and brokers not directly employed by insurance companies. Survey results were extrapolated according to the information collected from 566 statistical units successfully interviewed. Average earnings (excluding bonuses and allowances) of full-time employees engaging in these four sectors registered year-on-year increases; however, number of vacancies saw substantial decrease from a year earlier. At the end of the first quarter of 2009, Manufacturing sector had 19,678 paid employees, down significantly by 23.9% year-on-year, with 11,928 working in Manufacture of Wearing Apparel. Average earnings of full-time employees in March 2009 amounted to MOP5,200, up slightly by 1.1% year-on-year, with sewing machine operators earning MOP3,000 in average. Hotels & Restaurants sector took on 46,334 paid employees, down by 3.1% over the first quarter of 2008, with 29,608 working in hotels. Average earnings of full-time employees for the sector in March stood at MOP9,840, up by 3.1% year-on-year, of which earnings of hotel employees increased by 4.3% year-on-year to MOP11,460, with Housekeeping staff earning an average of MOP5,760. Financial sector had 5,549 paid employees, up by 3.0% year-on-year, with 4,731 working in banks. Average earnings of full-time employees in March rose by 1.9% year-on-year to MOP17,560 and that of Bank tellers was MOP10,130. Electricity, Gas & Water Supply sector had 1,053 paid employees, down by 2.0% year-on-year. Average earnings of full-time employees in March went up by 8.2% year-on-year to MOP21,950. At the end of March 2009, Manufacturing sector reported 1,060 vacancies (-75.0%); Hotels & Restaurants had 2,527 (-49.8%); Financial sector had 102 (-70.0%) and Electricity, Gas & Water Supply had 18 (-45.5%). In terms of recruitment prerequisites, 63.7% of the vacant posts in the Financial sector required working experience, 98.1% and 88.9% of the vacancies in the Financial sector and the Electricity, Gas & Water Supply sector required senior secondary education or higher. Besides Cantonese, Mandarin (50.3%) and English (37.1%) were the more preferable language skills for the vacancies in the Hotels & Restaurants sector, while 86.3% of those in the Financial sector required knowledge of English.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the 3 hospitals in Macao had 3,216 persons engaged in 2008, including 1,115 nurses and 555 doctors. The 3 hospitals altogether provided 1,030 in-patient hospital beds, with the hospital bed occupancy rate went up by 1.5 percentage points year-on-year to 78.4%. For the whole year of 2008, these hospitals carried out more than 14,000 surgical operations and about 301,000 emergency treatments. There were 492 establishments providing primary health care services, in which 379 were private clinics. Number of persons engaged totalled 2,045, with 726 doctors and 435 nurses. A total of 1,938,000 medical consultations were administered in 2008, of which 35.5% were in General practice and 8.2% in Internal medicine. In 2008, ratio of health care professionals to the population of Macao held stable at the same level as 2007, number of doctors per 1,000 population was 2.3 and that of nurses was 2.5. Number of blood donors increased slightly by 0.9% year-on-year to 9,166 in 2008 and the median age of the blood donors was 25.0. Meanwhile, the Blood Donation Centre provided 19,213 units of blood and blood components to the hospitals. In addition, there were 226 establishments providing Chinese medicine and therapy services and the number of persons engaged totalled 638, with 176 doctors of Chinese medicine and 165 Chinese herbalists. For the whole year of 2008, about 828,000 consultations of Chinese medicine and therapy services were provided.
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