News

The Monetary Authority of Macao releases today the credit card statistics for the first quarter of 2008. The total number of credit cards in circulation reached 340,043 at the end of March 2008, up 2.3% from the previous quarter. Among this total, the numbers of Pataca (MOP) cards, Hong Kong Dollar (HKD) cards and Renminbi (RMB) cards were 267,430, 64,949 and 7,661 respectively while the number of other foreign currency (OFC) cards stayed constantly at 3. Renminbi (RMB) cards and Pataca (MOP) cards increased by 5.5% and 2.7% respectively whereas Hong Kong Dollar (HKD) cards edged down marginally by 0.1%. Compared with the same period last year, Pataca (MOP) cards, Hong Kong Dollar (HKD) cards and Renminbi (RMB) cards grew 11.5%, 3.4% and 15.0% respectively. As at the end of March 2008, credit card credit limit granted by banks in Macao reached MOP6.0 billion, 2.9% up from end-December 2007. Credit card receivables amounted to MOP0.9 billion while the rollover amount reached MOP0.4 billion, accounting for 44.8% of credit card receivables. Meanwhile, the delinquency ratio stood at 0.34%. In the first quarter of 2008, the credit card turnover totalled MOP1.5 billion, 0.6% up on last quarter. The cash advance turnover amounted to MOP0.1 billion, which accounted for 8.2% of total credit card turnover. Credit card repayments (including payments for interest and fees) grew by 11.2% from the previous quarter to MOP1.6 billion.
The local merchant turnover, including purchases with credit cards issued domestically and abroad, amounted to MOP9.3 billion in the first quarter of 2008, up 7.7% quarter-to-quarter.
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The Executive Council has reviewed draft bills on the ranks and grades of civil servants and the ‘General rules for bureau directors, department heads, division chiefs and supervisors’. The two draft bills will be submitted to the Legislative Assembly for further discussion soon. The new ranks and grades scheme will apply to all civil servants with permanent tenure and contract staff. The draft bill proposed an increase in the number of salary scales to provide more incentive to staff that have reached the highest levels in their promotion path. The recruitment and promotion of civil servants would be centralised, to enhance management. According to the draft bill of ‘General rules for bureau directors, department heads, division chiefs and supervisors’, these officials are prohibited from working for the private sector within six months after the termination of their contracts. But they could apply for exemption to the Chief Executive, who is responsible for making a decision after consulting with a designated committee. If the application is turned down, the applicant is eligible for a compensation of six months’ salary. The draft bill also proposed an allowance for bureau directors, department heads, division chiefs, and supervisors, which varies from 15 to 20 per cent of their salary. It also proposed the setting up of an enhanced programme to evaluate the performance of officials.
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A transport consultation has revealed that the three things of most concern to the people are public bus services, a public transport-priority program for a thoroughfare, and more supervision of hotel and casino shuttle buses. The newly established Transport Bureau disclosed this today when it announced the results of a consultation on a proposal to optimise the city’s public transport network. A total of 466 responses were received in the one-month consultation period, which opened three months ago. Of these 312 responses (67 per cent) showed concern on bus services, mostly on the difficulties in getting on buses, especially during rush hour periods. Some people expressed dissatisfaction over duplication of bus stops and complexity and overlapping of routes. About 95 per cent of responses about bus services agreed with the Government’s decision to open up the public bus market and launch a bus service evaluation programme, so as to improve the quality of services. Some people said that the number of bus companies should not exceed four, and that the present companies should introduce an interchange programme to facilitate passengers. Some respondents urged the Government to optimise bus routes, minimise the overlapping of routes and cut the number of bus stops. Generally most respondents agreed that the Government could subsidise the public bus fare, but felt the programme should be fair, well-monitored, and benefit senior citizens, children and the needy only. Sixty-three per cent of the responses disagreed with the introduction of nine-seater buses, which taxi operators said would affect their business, worsen the shortage of drivers, and cause more traffic congestion. On the contrary, those who supported its introduction believed that it could facilitate residents living in the inner and older districts, considering the lack of buses and taxis in those areas. About sixty-nine per cent of the responses agreed with the public transport priority measures for Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro, the main avenue in the central district of Macao Peninsula. A majority of responses urged the Government to strengthen administration on hotel and casino shuttle coaches, such as their number, their routes and parking space for these shuttles.
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The Government today put into effect new measures in its efforts to prevent the spread of avian flu, following the discovery of the virus among poultry in four Hong Kong markets. The Avian Flu Task Force announced at a press conference today that if poultry in a stall or a wet market is tested positive for the H5 virus, the stall or market will be suspended from doing business for seven days. All live poultry in that stall or market will be culled. The sales ban could be extended to 21 days if the health authorities deemed it necessary. But if approved by the health authorities, the involved stall or market could sell poultry slaughtered in abattoirs. Vendors and staff of the stall or market will then be kept under medical surveillance during these seven days. The Task Force would collect more samples at wet markets and all poultry sales points, step up efforts to fight poultry smuggling and enhance surveillance of wild birds. The authorities would also carry out exercises at the poultry wholesale market, to enhance promotion on prevention and work closely with their counterparts in Hong Kong and neighboring regions.
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Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) promoted both leisure and business tourism at the 22nd International Travel Expo Hong Kong (ITE). As one of the official supporters of the event, MGTO organized a delegation which included 29 Macau trade partners to participate in this travel fair. The delegation was led by Deputy Director Helena Senna Fernandes who also represented MGTO at the opening ceremony this morning. The International Travel Expo is a prime travel expo held annually in Hong Kong. It has attracted an international portfolio of exhibitors and visitors, and provided platform for mutual exchange among the travel industry. In order to position Macau as a leisure and business destination, MGTO’s booth has been designed to serve both trade and public visitors as well as to facilitate Macau travel entities to present their products to the audience. This afternoon, MGTO hosted an in-booth cocktail to greet HK trade partners, MICE (Meeting, Incentive, Convention & Exhibition) organizers and media friends. Two seminars will also be held during consumer days (14 & 15 June) to promote 3 thematic routes as well as to introduce the “Macau Feel and View” Digital Video Campaign to the public. The MGTO booth was specially designed with reference to Rua da Felicidade, a famous old street in Macau. Information on Macau’s World Heritage sites, events and festivals in 2008 were displayed on the walls of the traditional 2-storey Chinese-style buildings. At the rear end of the booth, a “Ruins of St. Paul’s” backdrop served as a photo area for the public. Prior to the opening of ITE, MGTO has organized a Macau familiarization tour yesterday for the Expo’s hosted buyers, to showcase Macau’s potentials in leisure and business tourism development. The 22nd International Travel Expo is held from 12 to 15 June 2008 (12 & 13 June are trade days while 14 & 15 June are public days) at HK Convention and Exhibition Centre. According to official release, there are over 600 international exhibitors from 50 countries and regions participating in the Expo.
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The Health Bureau today urged the public to observe good personal and food hygiene, following the discovery of the avian flu virus in four wet markets in Hong Kong. Hong Kong’s Department of Health alerted Macao this evening of their decision to cull all live chickens at retail stalls and shops. The Health Bureau said it would keep close contact with the Hong Kong health authorities, and in monitoring the spread of the virus in the region and put into operation more preventive measures if necessary. The Bureau had also stepped up its surveillance on influenza and pneumonia cases. All doctors, hospitals and clinics have been told to monitor signs and symptoms of avian flu and report any suspected case to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention of the Health Bureau immediately. The Bureau has set up a hotline for enquiries about avian flu: 28561122. The hotline is manned from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. from 11 June to 15 June.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that Macao registered 450,017 visitor arrivals in package tours in April 2008, up by 27.2% from a year earlier. Visitors from Mainland China (301,892) and Southeast Asia (45,373) surged by 24.1% and 146.8% year-on-year, while those from Hong Kong (31,339) dropped by 15.6%. In the first four months of 2008, visitors arrived in package tours grew by 16.9% over the same period of 2007 to 1,647,576. The number of Macao residents travelling outbound in package tours in April 2008 decreased by 14.6% year-on-year to 17,084. Mainland China (75.7%), Taiwan, China (6.0%) and Thailand (5.8%) were three of the most popular tour itineraries. In the first four months of 2008, Macao residents travelling in package tours rose by 9.7% over the same period of 2007 to 70,359. Meanwhile, 29,105 residents travelled outbound under individual arrangements using services provided by travel agencies, up by 27.5% over April 2007. Hong Kong (39.8%), Mainland China (27.4%) and Taiwan, China (10.6%) were the major destinations. In the first four months of 2008, Macao residents travelled under such arrangements rose by 19.6% year-on-year to 120,741. At the end of April 2008, the total number of guest rooms available in the hotel sector grew by 3,146 (+24.1%) from a year earlier to 16,195 rooms. In April 2008, a total of 544,467 guests checked into hotels and similar establishments, representing a year-on-year increase of 9.0%; the majority of the guests came from Mainland China (50.5%) and Hong Kong (22.0%). Attributable to the rising number of guest rooms, the average hotel occupancy rate dropped by 3.8 percentage points to 75.4%, with 4-star hotels leading at 82.4%; in addition, the average length of stay of hotel guests extended by 0.2 night to 1.3 nights. Total number of hotel guests reached 2,153,419 in the first four months of 2008, up by 17.4% over the same period of 2007. In the first four months of 2008, visitor-guests staying in hotels accounted for 43.1% of the total number of tourists, up from 42.5% in the same quarter of 2007.
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Portuguese-Speaking Countries Pavilion – Jointly organized by IPIM and the Permanent Secretariat to the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and the Portuguese-speaking Countries, this Pavilion aims to help the building of Macao into a trade and economic service platform between China and Portuguese-Speaking Countries. Statistics show that in the first semester this year, the value of imports and exports between China and Portuguese-speaking countries amounted to USD 15.296 billion, representing a net increase of USD 7.252 billion or 90.2% over the same period last year. MIF is actively advancing its advantages as a trade and economic co-operation service platform by assisting enterprises from the Mainland China and Macao to exploit new markets in the Portuguese-speaking countries, promoting import and export trade and at the same time attracting more investors, entrepreneurs and professional buyers from Portuguese-speaking countries to come to Macao for product sourcing.
Portugal Pavilion – Last year, API and ICEP merged to form AICEP, which is responsible for the promotion of trade and investment, import and export and assisting the enterprises in foreign investment. With the support of AICEP and the major chambers of commerce of Portugal, MIF attracts every year entrepreneurs from Portugal to Macao to conduct business negotiations and display Portuguese products and technologies. EU Pavilion – At the 12th MIF, with the support of the Commission of the European Community in Hong Kong, this Pavilion attracted the participation of 11 entities, namely the consulates and commercial services of Austria, Belgium, Czech, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain and UK, Euro-Info Centre Macau and Institute of European Studies of Macau. This Pavilion will make its presence again in this year’s MIF and will assist the enterprises in understanding EU’s trade and economic policies, investment environment, co-operation channels and product information, etc. International Trade and Investment Promotion Institutions Pavilion – This Pavilion will help strengthen the ties between Macao and the trade promotion institutions from all over world. International Convention and Exhibition Pavilion – To cope with the development of the convention and exhibition industry of Macao, this year’s MIF will establish the International Convention and Exhibition Pavilion to attract international convention and exhibition groups to Macao to gain more in-depth knowledge about the favourable conditions of Macao for developing into a centre for convention and exhibition, so as to develop more opportunities for co-operation.
2010 Shanghai World Expo Pavilion – 2010 Shanghai World Expo will be held from 1 May to 31 October in 2010 in the region between the Nanpu Bridge and Lupu Bridge along both sides of Huangpu River in Shanghai, with the theme of “Better City, Better Life”. The Expo, a mega project extending a vast area of 5.28 square km, will be represented at this year’s MIF with a themed pavilion to showcase its plans and contents.
Franchise/Agency Business Pavilion – By introducing franchise/agency business pavilion, MIF will provide local and Mainland enterprises with new business development opportunities. In recent years, it has been seen that more and more brand names have adopted this business model to expand their business. In fact, the enterprises in Macao can also make use of this model to diversify their business and enter the Mainland market, and hence sparkling new dynamics for growth. Themed Pavilions – This year, there will be a “Digital Technology Pavilion” featuring world renowned brand name digital and photographic equipment and products. Meanwhile, “Tourism and Leisure Products Pavilion” will make its presence again this year. Subsidy to SME’s for participation in MIF MIF is keen to help local Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SME’s) in finding co-operation partners, conducting promotion and publicity and introducing new products and technologies. Last year, the new SME Pavilion co-organized by Macao Chamber of Commerce and IPIM met with very encouraging response from local SME’s. All the 118 booths were sold out. The MIF this year will again set up this Pavilion and expand it moderately in order increase the level of participation and attractiveness. Initially, there will be 140 booths. To support the local SME’s and encourage them to make use of the MIF platform to open up new business opportunities, IPIM will offer local SME’s subsidy for their participation in MIF. The amount of subsidy for each booth will be MOP 5,800.00, which means that the charges for a 9 square metre booth will be MOP 5,000.00. MIF welcomes the participation of local SME’s to take the chance to develop new business opportunities. “On-site Activities Centre” This year’s MIF will introduce an “On-site Activities Centre”, which will provide the commercial chambers and participating enterprises a dynamic platform to promote their latest products and technologies, hence enriching the contents and promotion channels of the Fair. Forums & Conferences Forums and conference constitute a major feature of MIF. Every year, MIF invites top government officials, leaders of commercial chambers and different business sectors to participate in our event to jointly promote regional and cross-regional trade and economic co-operation. According to our plan, the major forums and conferences for this year include “International Trade and Investment Forum 2008”, “Macao International Convention and Exhibition CEO Conference 2008”, “Forum of Exhibition Co-operation of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao 2008”, and “Informatics Forum”. By adopting the approach of “promoting exhibition with convention”, this year’s MIF will organize more international conferences to attract more international buyers, investors and corporate representatives to come to Macao. Meanwhile, “co-operation between convention and exhibition” will help bring in more conferences and exhibitions to Macao. In fact, the “Investment Environment Presentations” and “Professional Presentations” held every year at the MIF have brought in a large number of professional visitors. By taking part in the above meetings, participants can gain knowledge about the latest investment environment, policies and regulations and market information. Business Matching & Purchase Negotiations Business Matching This year, more efforts will be put in the collection of business matching and investment projects so as to expand the volume of matching. In addition to “on-site matching” and “off-site matching”, this year’s MIF will reinforce “investment project matching” and “delegation matching”. The organiser of MIF is also planning to collect investment projects from the authorities in mainland China, with whom MIF maintains connections, including departments of commerce, investment promotion bureaus, foreign trade and investment co-operation bureaus, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, and investment centers, with the intention to promote the efficiency of MIF and hence Macao’s trade and economic development. Buyers’ Corner Moreover, the organiser is going to arrange visits of local and overseas buyer delegations, with an aim to provide the exhibitors and participants with more opportunities of purchase negotiation. MIF welcomes the business sector of Macao to provide projection information for arranging business matching service. Contact person: Mr. Tylor Ian, IPIM at tel: 853-8798 9297. Specialized Sourcing Seminars To improve the professional level of the MIF and to provide a direct link between the buyers and suppliers, MIF will again organize “Specialized Sourcing Seminars” which serves as a direct exchange platform to the buyers and suppliers. Speakers will come from local and international sourcing groups who will brief participating suppliers about the international trends of sourcing and purchasing needs, followed by interaction and exchange. Examples of specialized sourcing seminars held in the past include “China and the Portuguese-Speaking Countries-Products Sourcing – 2007” and “Buyers’ Briefing for Construction Materials Sector”. Supporting Services
Online Pre-registration Since its introduction last year, this service has received favourable response from users. This year, MIF will continue to provide online pre-registration service for professional visitors. For more information, please visit our website at: www.mif.com.mo
Improved Online Services To offer more quality supporting services to exhibitors and participants, the official website of this year’s MIF will provide a wide range of services, including general information, exhibitors services, professional visitors services and business matching services. Users may also send out invitation letters from our website, make online inquiries about exhibitors’ information, shuttle buses, official hotels, forwarding service and flights to Macao.
On-site Searching Service
This year, the organiser is going to install computer terminals at the MIF venue through which participants can search for exhibitors’ products and services. Professional visitors or buyers can instantly obtain the booth number and zone of the exhibitors they are looking for, thus enhancing the effectiveness of business matching.
Venue management to be reinforced MIF will establish a regulatory and complaint mechanism at the venue this year, and will make every effort to protect intellectual property rights, handle complaints and inspect products, with the goal of improving the professional level of the Fair.
All Round Ancillary Services
This year’s MIF will continue to improve the various ancillary services. In addition to “Media Centre”, “Business Centre”, “Registration Centre”, “Agreement Signing Centre”, “Business Matching Centre” and “Buyer’s Corner”, there will be a “Small and Medium Enterprises Service Counter” dedicated to provide on-site consulting service to local SME’s. Other ancillary services include “telecommunications service”, “postal service”, “travel service’, “translation service”, “shuttle bus service” and “on-site transportation service”.
More Convenient Local Transportation To cope with the needs of the participants, this year’s MIF will improve the transportation arrangement to and from the MIF venue, including the extension of the service hours of shuttle buses to 7:00 PM, increasing the frequency of buses to and from official hotels to every 30 minutes, so as to encourage more participants to make use of the official transportation of the MIF and thus minimize the need for car park space at the venue. Meanwhile, more publicity will be made about the routes of the shuttle buses.
MIF Administrative & Service Centre Set Up
Committed to Providing Quality Service to Participants
The MIF Administrative & Service Centre, located on 20th Floor of China Civil Plaza Building at Alameda Dr. Carlos D’Assumpção No. 263, is now open for service, and is committed to providing local and overseas exhibitors and participants with quality service.
For further information about the 13th Macao International Trade and Investment Fair (MIF), please contact us at tel: 853-2882 8711, fax: 853-2882 8722, or visit our website at: www.mif.com.mo
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The Largest International Economic and Trade Event in Macao
Dedicated to Helping You Develop New Business Opportunities Organised by the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), co-organised by the Macao Chamber of Commerce, Industrial Association of Macao, Macao Importers and Exporters Association, Association of Knitting and Spinning Industry of Macao, Macao Shipper’s Association, The Macao Association of Banks, Macao Association of Building Contractors and Developers, The Macao Small and Medium Enterprises Association, The Macao Chinese Enterprises Association, Chongqing Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Commission, The Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong, and coordinated by the Macao Convention and Exhibition Association, the Macau Fair and Trade Association and the Association of Advertising Agents of Macau, “The 13th Macao International Trade and Investment Fair (MIF)” will be held at The Cotai StripTM Convention and Exhibition Center at the Venetian® Macao from 23rd to 26th of October 2008. Macao International Trade and Investment Fair (MIF) is the largest trade and economic event held annually in Macao. MIF serves as your platform to network with international companies and businesspeople and is a hub for trade and investment promotion, publicity of your products and services, and establishment of business partnerships. Since its first launch, MIF has all along been strongly supported by the business sector of Macao. Last year, the 12th MIF was graced by the presence of 27 local chambers of commerce who organised activities at the Fair, and attracted successfully 236 delegations from 50 countries and regions, who participated as exhibitors and/or attendees of forums/conferences. MIF serves to promote Macao’s advantage as a business service platform. The theme of this year’s MIF is “Macao: An Efficient Business Platform to Leverage the Advantages of Regional Co-operation.” With the deepening of regional co-operation, it helps to bring forth new dynamics for economic growth. With the completion of numerous large investment projects in Macao, it has generated tremendous trade and investment opportunities, favorable to promoting co-operation with peripheral industries and neighbouring regions. With regard to exhibitions, this year’s MIF will enrich the contents of the various pavilions. The main pavilions include China’s Provinces and Cities Pavilion, Macao Pavilion, EU Pavilion, Portuguese-Speaking Countries Pavilion, Portugal Pavilion, International Trade and Investment Promotion Institutions Pavilion, International Convention and Exhibition Pavilion and a number of themed products pavilions. This year, MIF is intending to establish some new pavilions, namely “2010 Shanghai World Expo Pavilion”, “Franchise/Agency Business Pavilion” and “Taiwan Pavilion”. Regarding forums and conferences, by adopting the approach of “promoting exhibition with convention”, this year’s MIF will organize trade and economic conferences, and forums on co-operation in the convention and exhibition industry, which will help to bring in visitors from different countries and regions. As for business matching, this year’s MIF will introduce “delegation matching” which is a more sophisticated system for business matching service. Meanwhile, MIF will reinforce the on-site information management system. Participants can obtain information about the exhibitor’s industry and booth location via the on-site computer terminals, which facilitates the process of purchase negotiations. With respect to the arrangement of activities, this year’s MIF will introduce an “on-site activities centre”, which will provide space for the chambers of commerce and exhibitors to demonstrate their strength with a variety of shows and displays, hence contributing to increasing the attractiveness of the Fair. Extensive Promotion Activities Being Rolled Out
Attracting More Trade Visitors to Take Part in MIF Until now, IPIM has sent out over 10,000 invitation letters to the government departments and private enterprises in Mainland China, overseas consulates and commercial services, international organisations, trade promotion institutes, chambers of commerce, multinational corporations and enterprises. Since the end of last year, MIF has been actively carrying out external promotion and publicity work, including the setting up of exhibition booth and organization of promotional activities in such large trade and economic exchange activities as “12th East-West China Co-operation & Investment Trade Fair” of Xi’an, “Canton Fair” (103rd China Import and Export Fair) of Guangzhou, “3rd Expo Central China” of Wuhan, and “Forum of Enterprises for Trade and Economic Co-operation between China and Portuguese-Speaking Countries” of Cape Verde. Besides, MIF has been carrying out cross promotion and radiative promotion through co-operation partners and partner fairs, such as “China Hi-Tech Fair” organized by several ministries and authorities of the Mainland including Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Science and Technology, “Hong Kong Brands and Products Expo” organized by The Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong, “International Fair of Maputo” organized by Institute of Export Promotion of Mozambique, and “China International Fair for Investment and Trade” organized by Ministry of Commerce of China. In addition, IPIM will hold two promotional activities for MIF in Hong Kong and Guangzhou later in this month, and will announce or update the latest information about MIF through such media as newspapers, magazines, internet websites, and outdoor advertisements. IPIM will hold two promotional activities for MIF in Hong Kong and Guangzhou later month. Besides, IPIM will take every opportunity to promote MIF in the provinces of Mainland China, Portuguese-Speaking Countries, EU countries, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. With the further improvement in the number of flight routes and transport facilities, MIF will liaise with countries and regions which have direct flights to Macao and invite their chambers of commerce to organise trade and economic delegations to participate in the Fair, to attract more trade visitors who will learn about the investment environment and co-operation opportunities in Macao. The co-ordinators of the 13th MIF, namely the Macao Convention and Exhibition Association, the Macau Fair and Trade Association and the Association of Advertising Agents of Macau are giving their full support in promotion work, by the use of emails, direct mails and promotion plan, to convey news about the MIF to the above mentioned target organisations. In Macao, the organiser will publicize the latest news about the MIF through advertisements in newspapers and electronic media, outdoor advertisements, and the support of chambers of commerce, with the aim of expanding the reach to all sectors of Macao. Main Pavilions
China’s Provinces and Cities Pavilion – With the deepening of the implementation of CEPA, it has provided local and overseas enterprises with broader market and facilitating measures. MIF, being a platform to promote regional trade and investment, will provide participants with an opportunity to understand in greater depth the investment policies, development trend, investment environment and investment hot spots. Macao Pavilion – This pavilion comprises the “Macao Pavilion” organised by IPIM, “Macao Pavilion for Commerce and Industry” featuring the commerce and industry of Macao and “Macao – An Ideal Place to Live” which showcases the real estate industry of Macao. This Pavilion provides a comprehensive overview of the traditional and new industries in Macao, as well as participating local corporations and enterprises. For registration, please call 2882-8711.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah said today that the Portuguese community is one of the most important components of the society and that they have made great contributions in helping build the Macao SAR with one heart. Mr Ho made this remark when he attended the reception this evening held by the Portuguese Consulate General to celebrate the Portugal Day, Camoes Day and the Portuguese Community Day. He said he appreciated the Portuguese community's generosity for the donation to the Sichuan’s earthquake victims. Mr Ho also welcomed the visiting Secretary of State of Portugal, Dr. Filipe Baptista. He said the SAR Government would act according to the spirit of the Basic Law andd that all Macao residents, including members of Portuguese community, could live happily in Macao. Mr Ho also wished the Portugal national team would get the best position in Euro2008, and as well as in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
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