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State Councillor and State Council Secretary General, Mr Hua Jianmin, arrived in Macao this evening to officiate tomorrow's opening of the Second Ministerial Conference of the Economic Cooperation Forum between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. Mr Hua was greeted at the airport by the Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah; Minister of Commerce, Mr Bo Xilai; Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Chen Zhuoer; Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Macao, Mr Xu Ze; Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Francis Tam Pak Yuen, and other senior officials. Some students were also at the tarmac to welcome the State Councillor with flowers. Upon arrival, Mr Hua met with Mr Edmund Ho at Government Headquarters before proceeding to a welcoming reception hosted by Mr Ho. Speaking at the dinner reception held at the Government Headquarters, the Chief Executive thanked the Central Government for supporting Macao to stage another ministerial conference of the Sino-Lusophone Forum following the huge success of the first ministerial conference three years ago. He added that it was a great honour for Macao to have Mr Hua at the conference's opening tomorrow. Mr Ho also underlined that Macao owed its success in promoting trade between China and Portuguese-speaking countries to the Central Government's support. Also attending the dinner reception were Vice Chairman of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Mr Ma Man Kei; Minister of Commerce, Mr Bo Xilai; and other senior officials and luminaries.
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Macao is playing a greater role in the development of economic co-operation between China and the Lusophone countries. The Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, is scheduled to attend an exposition in Changsha, Hunan Province, on Monday, together with ministerial-level officials from seven Lusophone countries who are currently in Macao for the Second Ministerial Conference of the China and Portuguese-speaking Countries Economic Cooperation Forum (Macao). It's Macao's strategy to diversify its economy by promoting the business links and co-operation between the Mainland and the Portuguese-speaking countries. The exposition, Expo Central China 2006, is jointly hosted by a number of departments of the State Council, trade-promotion institutes and the provincial governments of six provinces in the central region of China, namely Shaanxi, Anhui, Jiangxi, Henan, Hubei and Hunan. Mr Ho is expected to attend the opening ceremony of the exposition and deliver a speech during a forum titled ''Business Going West'', which is expected to be attended by high-ranking official of the state and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the Chief Executive of Hong Kong, and principal officials of the six central provinces. Mr Ho is expected to return to Macao on Tuesday evening (Sept 26).
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The opening of the 11th Macao International & Investment Fair is held by today at 11:00 in Macao Convention & Entertainment Centre. The ceremony is co-officiated by Chief Executive of Macao SAR: Mr. Ho Hau Wah and other 13 officials. More than a thousand of officials, business people and celebrities, who are from 47 countries and regions attended the ceremony. Chief Executive of Macao SAR: Mr. Ho Hau Wah, accompanied by Secretary of Economy and Finance of Macao SAR: Mr. Tam Pak Yuen and President of Macao Trade & Investment Promotion Institute: Mr. Lee Peng Hong visited the pavilions before the Opening Ceremony. Chief Executive of Macao SAR: Mr. Ho Hau Wah, Minister of Commerce of Angola, Mr. Joaquim Muafumba, Minister of Economy Growth and Competitiveness of Cape-Verde: Mr. Joao Pereire da Silva, Deputy Director General of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s government in The Macao SAR: Ms. Gao Yan, Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of People Republic of China in The Macao SAR: Mr. Wan Yongxiang, Deputy Director of Ministry of Commerce of People’s Republic of China: Mr. Wei Jianguo, Advisor to Mayor of Chongqing City: Mr. Gan Yuping, Secretary of Economy and Finance of Macao SAR: Tam Pak Yuen,
Vice-Chairman of All-China Federation of Industry & Commerce: Ms. Shen jianguo,
Vice President of the Chinese Council for the Promotion of International Trade: Mr. Dong Songgen, President of Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute and the Organiser of the 11th MIF: Mr. Lee Peng Hong, President of Co-ordinator Macao Convention & Exhibition Association: Mr. Jing Chongyun, co-officiated the 11th MIF Opening Ceremony. Mr. Lee Peng Hong delivered a speech that the Convention & Exhibition Industry and Leisure Tourism Industry are both positively affecting each other, Macao’s commerce and trade platform has experienced unprecedented elaboration. MIF will be continuing to act as the commerce and trade platform and provide more opportunities for promoting conferences & product promotion program. In addition, this year’s FIM has set up “Chinese and Portuguese – speaking Countries Commodities Buyer Meeting” in order to help “Small and Medium Sized Enterprises” develop overseas market. MIF is the largest comprehensive commerce and trade exhibition activity and it is the only UFI (The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry) approved fair in Macao. This year, in coordination with the “2nd Ministerial Meeting of the Forum For Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-Speaking Countries (Macao)” there are around 150 commerce and trade delegations coming from 47 countries and regions attending over 30 seminars, conferences and product promotions programs. Furthermore, MIF has arranged pre-arranged 380 business meetings for the participants and those meetings are starting after today’s Opening Ceremony. There are total of 23,000 visitors attending the first day’s MIF and there are119 programs was discussed in the business match meetings. In addition, the co-operation agreements related retailed products, trade investment, banking, hotel, industry, exhibition & conference and education are reached at today’s MIF activities. The Opening Ceremony of Shantou City Provilion was held at 12:00 this afternoon. Vice-President of the Chinese Council for the Promotion of International Trade: Mr. Dong Snoggen and Mr. Lee Peng Hong and other officials officiated the ceremony. The 4th Forum of the Development of the Private Enterprises in China (Macau) was held at 2:00this afternoon. Chief Executive of Macao SAR: Mr. Ho Hau Wah, Deputy-Director General of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s government in The Macao SAR: Mr. Chen Qiming, Deputy Director General of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s government in The Hong Kong SAR: Mr. Li Gang, Vice –Chairman of Committee of National People’s Congress of P.R.China.
Secretary of Economy and Finance of Macao SAR: Mr. Tam Pak Yuen, Chairman of Board of Directors of Industrial Association of Macao: Ho Laseng, Vice-Chairman of All-China Federation of Industry & Commerce: Ms. Shen jianguo, Vice-Chairman of All-China Federation of Industry & Commerce: Mr. Ma yuli, Vice President of the Chinese Council for the Promotion of International Trade: Mr. Dong Songgen, Deputy Director of Ministry of Commerce of People’s Republic of China: Mr. Wei Jianguo, President of Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute: Mr. Lee Peng Hong, attended the ceremony. Mr. Ho Hau Wah said that the theme of the forum has a profound significance. Macao will play an important role to promote trade and economic co-operation between China’s private enterprises and Portuguese-speaking countries.He considered that this advantage is unique and can not be replaced. The theme of this forum is “Chinese and Portugues-speaking Countries Commodities Buyers Meeting”. Vice –Chairman of Development Research Center of State Council PR.China, President of Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute: Mr. Lee Peng Hong attended the ceremony, Vice-Chairman of All-China Federation of Industry & Commerce: Ms. Shen jianguo, Vice President of Association of Entrepreneur in Portugal: Dr. Jose Maria Sa Correia, President Binacional da Câmara de Comércio e Indústria Brasil-China: Dr. Charles Tang and Economist: Mr. Cao heping delivered speeches in the forum. The “Buyers Promotion Program” was held at 5:30 this afternoon, the delegates from War-Mart (China) introduced the company’s promotion strategy for the retailed- products. “Portuguese Wine and Olive Oil Promotion” attracted lot of customers to the Portuguese Provilion. In addition, “The Exhibition of Zhanjing Trade & Investment in 2006” was held by the local government this afternoon. The exhibitions at 24th September 2006 will be “ The Development of the Fushan Ceramics”, “Presentation of Business Opportunity of Anhui Huoshan 2006”,
“Scope of Banking Service Provided by Commercial Banking”, “Hi-Tech Project Matching (Macao) of 8th China Hi-Tech Fair”, “Poland – The Offer for You from the Leading Cnetral European Economy”, “Utilize the Western China Expo. Develop the Market of the Western China”Presentation on How International Enterprise Marketing Use of the West China Expo. As the platform for the Development of the Market of the Western Part of Mainland China.”
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There were several prelude activities of 11th MIF was held yesterday, which included “Presentation of Trade and Investment Environment with cooperation Projects of Shaanxi Province”, “ Introduction to Yiwu Investment Environment and China Yiwu International Commodities Fair” and “Briefing on Guangxi Investment Environment & ASENAN Business Zone (Nanning)”. The Vice Governor of People’s Government of Shaanxi Province: Zhao De-Quan; Vice Director of Liaison Office Of The Central People’s Government In The Macao SAR: Gao Yan; Secretary for Economy and Financial of Macao SAR: Tam Pak Yuen; President of IPIM of Macao SAR: Lee Peng Hong; The president of International Chinese Association: Zhou Zhong Lan and several hundred business people took part in the “Presentation of Trade and Investment Environment with cooperation Projects of Shaanxi Province”. Mr. Zhao De-Quan introduced the Shaanxi’s investment environment and competitive policy of promoting business in the province. He hoped the Shaanxi province could take the advantage of Macao’s playing a full role as an economic and trading service platform, especially between Mainland China and Europe, Portuguese-speaking countries. The Sectary of Wuyi Municiple Communism Party: Lou GuoHua and the Director of Trade and Promotion Institute in Guang Xi Province: Zhang ZhenDong delivered speeches in the conference. They warmly welcomed the Macao and overseas business people to take the investment in local business fields. Mr. Lou GuoHua said that Wuyi’s international commodities market is famous in the nation and it enhances and promotes the local industries of manufacture, tourism, shipping, conference and exhibition. The President of IPIM of Macao SAR: Lee Peng Hong said that an opening ceremony of liaison office of IPIM will be held and officially put into operation in next month. It will be helpful and benefit to the economic and trade cooperation between Macao and Zhejing province. IPIM plans to take part in the “Wuyi International Commodities Fair” this year. In addition, the 11th MIF and the “Second Ministerial Meeting Of the Forum For Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries(Macau) will attract a larger number of officials and enterprises from China, Portuguese-speaking countries and local business people who are looking for trade promotion and business cooperation. The Director of Guagxi Investment Promotion Agency: Zhang Zhen-Dong considered that the unique culture background and solid foundation of economy will provide more competitive advantage with low cost investment in the international market. The Executive Director of IPIM, Jackson Chang introduced the information about the China and ESEAN. He belied that the Guangxi delegates will take the advantage of attending MIF to make Macao and overseas business people understanding the benefit from the most potential and developing investment and create an ideal opportunity for the cooperation and development in this area.
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Organized by the Macau Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) and co-organized by the Macau Chamber of Commerce, Industrial Association of Macau, Macao Importers and Exporters Association, Association of Knitting and Spinning Industry of Macau, Macau Shipper’s Association, The Macau Association of Banks, Macao Association of Building Contractors and Developers, The Macau Small and Medium Enterprises Association, The Macau Chinese Enterprises Association, Chong-Qing Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Commission, The Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong, and coordinated by Macao Convention & Exhibition Association, the “11th Macao International Trade and Investment Fair (MIF) opens today and it will be held at the Macau Tower Convention & Entertainment Centre From 23 to 26 September, 2006. This year’s MIF will be held concurrently with the “2nd Ministerial Meeting of the Forum For Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-Speaking Countries (Macao)” and related cooperation activities between Chinese and Portuguese-speaking entrepreneurs, aiming to attract a larger number of enterprises from China, Portuguese-speaking countries, other overseas countries and Macau itself to this important economic and trade event. There are 21 countries and territories attending this great event, including China, Portugal, Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, Guine-Bissau, Cabo Verde, East Timor, the United Kingdom the United States of America, Australia, Canada, Germany, France, Switzerland, Poland, Spain, Belgium, Sweden, Hungary, Czech Republic, Chile, South Africa, Mexico, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, New Zealand, India, Myanmar, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, Brunei, Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR. MIF provides both indoor and outdoor booth spaces for displaying customer’s products and services over 226 indoor booths and 100 booths and with 17 different exhibition areas including: “Portugese-speaking countries”, “Small and Medium Enterprises Area”, “Sino-Portuguese Construction Materials Area”, “Passionate Macau Area”, “ Macao and “General Merchandise and Provision Stores Area”, “Made in Macau pavilion”, “Macao –Ideal Place to live”, “ Macau Convention and Exhibition Pavilion”, “Portugal Exhibition Provilion”, “German Pavilion”, “Foreign Business Povilion”, “Shaan-Xi Pavilion”,”Guang-Xi Provilion”, “Shan-Tou Provilion”, “Chung-Qing Provilion”, “Shen-Zhen provilon”, ect. This year’s MIF, there is a “professional service center” is available to all customers with provision of excellent and first-class services. “A package of professional service “will provide a good channel for Macao and overseas business people to promote their products and services. With enthusiastic participation response from 30 local trade associations, Macao enterprises are looking for business expansion through participation in the MIF. The institutes and organizations which are taking part in the great event as followed: Gabinete de Apoio ao Secretariado do Fórum para a Coorperação Económica e Comercial entre a China e os Países de Língua Portuguesa （Macau）, International Portuguese-Speaking Market Macao Enterpriser Association, Macau Fair & Trade Association, Association of Advertising Agents of Macau. In addition, Macao Youth Entrepreneur Association, International Lusophone Markets Business Association, The Zhuhai – Macao Cross Broader Industrial Zone Chamber of Commerce, German Macau Business Association, Macau Goldsmith’s Guild, Macau Chamber of Industry and Commerce Brazil – China, Associação de Pequenas e Médias Empresas de Macau, Macao Businesswomen Association, Associação dos Merceeiros e Quinquilheiros de Macau, Industry and Commerce Association of Macau Northern District. There are over 170 Macao enterprises attending the event to pursue the potential opportunities and development. MIF is Macao’s largest international integrated exposition offering opportunities and platform for overseas and Macao exhibitors, especially “Small and Medium Enterprises” in Macao. The 11th MIF, the 4th Forum of the Development of the Private Enterprises in China (Macau) will be held. Scholars and Chinese private entrepreneur will take the floor on the forum and deliver the speeches, which is about the prospects of development of economic and trade co-operation for China’s private enterprises. This year’s MIF will be held from 23 to 26 September. Opening hours for the first day will be from 12:00 noon to 7:00 p.m., the outdoor exhibition area will open from 12:00 noon to 9:00 p.m. Opening hours on 24 and 25 September will be from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., while the outdoor exhibition areas will open from 10:00 to 9:00 p.m. On 26 September, opening hours will be from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The following special free shuttle bus services will be available during the MIF period: (1) “Port Shuttle”: Macau Tower – Ferry Terminal – Border Gate
(2)“Headquarter Hotels Shuttle”: Macau Tower – Hotel Mandarin Oriental – Hotel Golden Dragon – Rio Hotel – Emperor Hotel – Hotel Beverly Plaza – Hotel Sintra
(3)“Central Shuttle: Macau Tower – Luso International Bank Building
(4) “Taipa Shuttle”: Macau Tower – Plaza Oceano – Grandview Hotel – New Century Hotel
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A delegation led by Minister of Commerce, Mr Bo Xilai, arrived in Macao this evening to attend the Second Ministerial Conference of the China and Portuguese-speaking Countries Economic Cooperation Forum (Macao), which will be held here on 24-25 September. Chief Executive Edmund Ho Hau Wah met with Mr Bo Xilai, and hosted a welcome reception for the delegation at the Wynn Resort in the evening. The delegation led by Mr Bo included the Vice Minister of Commerce, Mr Wei Jianguo and other prominent officials of the ministry.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, said today that it is Macao's aim to transform itself into a regional and international tourist destination and a hub for convention and exhibition. Mr Ho made the observations when he addressed the opening of the International Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention 2006. He said that the standard of services provided by Macao’s tourism and leisure sector would progress rapidly in the future, and other industries related to the tourism sector would also prosper, especially the business of convention and exhibition. This would provide more business opportunities in addition to the current ones, Mr Ho said.
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Information from Statistics and Census Service indicated that the Composite CPI for August 2006 was 108.75, up slightly by 0.07% over July. The increment was caused by the increase in the price indices of Housing & fuels; and Food & non-alcoholic beverages. However, the impacts were offset by the decrease in the index of Clothing & footwear. Compared with July 2006, the indices of Housing & fuels; and Food & non-alcoholic beverages increased by 0.40% and 0.18% respectively. The increases were led by higher rentals for housing, dearer charges for the services for the maintenance and repair of dwelling, rising prices of vegetables, fruit and meals bought away from home. On the other hand, seasonal sale of women’s clothing pushed the price index of Clothing & footwear down by 2.07%. The Composite CPI for August 2006 registered a year-on-year increase of 4.67%. Average Composite CPI for January to August went up by 5.56% compared with the same period of 2005. For the 12 months ended August 2006, the average Composite CPI increased by 5.54% over the previous period. In addition, the CPI-A and CPI-B for August 2006 were 109.81 and 108.42, up by 0.13% and 0.05% respectively compared with July. Starting from January 2006, the CPI has been rebased to July 2004 to June 2005. The Composite CPI reflects the impacts of price changes for the general population. The CPI-A relates to about 49% of households, which had an average monthly expenditure of MOP 3,000 to MOP 9,999; the CPI-B relates to about 31% of households, which had an average monthly expenditure of MOP 10,000 to MOP 19,999.
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The forth night of displays of Wynn Macau – 18th Macau International Fireworks Display Contest promises to be a very good representation of the Japanese and North American pyrotechnic styles. Pyro Spectaculars by Souza, known as the “United States’ pyrotechnic ambassadors”, will offer to the public at 9 p.m. a true journey across the USA. “The theme of our exhibition is Taste of America. We are bringing to Macau a style of fireworks representative of what America is: a mix of cultures. Regarding the music, it will be a journey through the different regions of the United States”, says Paul Souza, leader of the team, which is the second team from the USA participating in Macau’s contest in its eighteen years of history. Paul Souza belongs to the fifth generation of a family of Portuguese emigrants who took its pyrotechnic art to the US more than 100 years ago. The curriculum of the company is impressive and diverse: Olympic ceremonies, including Athens and Atlanta Games; major sporting events in the US, like the Super Bowl (American Football League Final); collaborations with Hollywood movies, like Matrix; opening of theme parks like Disneyland. But Souza’s trademark in the US is the spectacular exhibitions for the USA National Day, 4th of July. The Japanese Takagi Fireworks, who will present its art in Macau at 10 p.m., is also a family company. For the second time in Macau, after a participation in 2001 (2nd place), the Japanese team comes prepared to enchant the local public and fight to be the sixth team from Japan to win the Macau competition. “In Japan we don’t have any very big world fireworks producing companies, but we are well known for giving much attention to the detail on our exhibitions”, points out Masayuki Takagi, president of the company founded by his grandfather. The Japanese team stands out from its rivals in the Macau competition in terms of the equipment used to launch the fireworks - more sophisticated, enabling a stronger exhibition. On the other hand, they are the first team in this year’s contest to use fireworks launched on the surface of the water. Another interesting aspect about the team representing Japan in Macau is the fact that, besides including three Takagi generations (grandfather, father and son), it also consists of one Chinese technician and a translator from Guangxi, a province where the company has a joint venture to manufacture fireworks.
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Ministers for trade and economy from China and seven Portuguese-speaking countries will meet in Macao on Sunday to bolster multilateral economic co-operation. The triennial conference, the Second Ministerial Conference for the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries (Macao), is organised by the Central Government. The Minister of Commerce, Mr Bo Xilai, and delegations led by ministerial-level officials from Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal and East Timor, will attend the conference and related events. The Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Francis Tam Pak Yuen, said that the First Ministerial Conference three years ago had strengthened the image of Macao as a trading and services platform. The goal for the Second Ministerial Conference is to review their co-operation in the last three years and to set up new objectives for the next three years. The conference will highlight Macao as a trading and services platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries. A forum is designated for businesspeople from the participating countries to enhance business ties. In addition, businesspeople, representatives from international trade organisations and trade promotion institutes will also participate in the related activities.
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