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MGTO Exhibits at World Travel Market in London
20th December 2009 marks the 10th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Macau Special Administrative Region, and the Macau Government Tourist Office is exhibiting once again at London’s World Travel Market, from 9th to 12th November, to showcase the exciting developments that have taken place in Macau during the past decade and others in the pipeline, and to encourage increased tourism to the destination from the UK and around the world. Held at London’s ExCel exhibition venue, World Travel Market is one of the global events for the travel industry. Staged annually in London, WTM is a four day business to business event, showcasing destinations and travel suppliers from around the world to industry buyers and media. It is a unique opportunity for the travel trade to meet, network, negotiate and conduct business under one roof and to keep abreast of the latest developments within the industry. The 2008 show played host to an amazing 49,963 travel industry professionals from every corner of the globe. This year’s event opened on Monday 9th November and concludes on Thursday 12th November 2009. The 27m² MGTO booth is located within the Asia section and is shared by the Venetian Macao Hotel Resort and the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), which is promoting the PATA Travel Mart 2010 to be held in Macau next September. Representatives for the MGTO include: Deputy Director, Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Isabela A. Trabuco and Alorino Noruega, as well as representatives from MGTO’s UK representative office: Sue Whitehead, Becky Smith and Claire Winsor. On the evening of Monday 9th November, the MGTO is sponsored a PATA dinner, held at the House of Commons for travel trade and media guests. This is the fourth time that the MGTO has sponsored this prestigious event, hosted within the world famous Houses of Parliament on the banks of the River Thames. Deputy Director, Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes said, “The MGTO is delighted to, once again, be involved with this fantastic event. World Travel Market is a hugely important global occasion and PATA’s annual House of Commons dinner is a ‘must’ for the cream of the travel trade. Our association with both places Macau firmly on the world map, raising the profile of our destination and further endorsing our position within the global travel community”. The MGTO is highlighting a number of exciting initiatives at WTM 2009, including a fantastic new online training programme for UK travel agents. The training scheme, named Macau Specialist, aims to enhance travel agents’ product knowledge of the destination and increase their selling power. UK agents will be encouraged to visit the stand throughout the show and try the scheme for themselves to find out what puts the wow into Macau! Visitors to WTM are also likely to see a number of MGTO branded taxis on their journeys to and from the show. The UK Representation Team has branded 50 London taxis with vibrant Macau imagery and these vehicles have been driving on routes throughout Greater London from 1st October, right through until the end of the year, ensuring fantastic exposure for Macau! On the eve of the 10th anniversary celebrations, 2009’s World Travel Market is set to be a rewarding and exciting show for Macau, showcasing the best of the destination on a truly global platform!
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Results of the Industrial Survey 2008
Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that total Value of Production & Other Receipts of Macao registered continuous decline in 2008, down by 13.2% year-on-year to MOP14.31 billion; Gross Value Added that measures the sectoral contribution to the economy amounted to MOP3.56 billion, a decrease of 10.6%; Intermediate Consumption fell by 14.0% to MOP10.75 billion, whereas Gross Fixed Capital Formation increased by 125.0% to MOP1.47 billion. In 2008, there were 1,045 establishments operating in industrial production, a decrease of 70 over 2007; total number of persons engaged dropped by 15.5% to 24,901. In 2008, the principal indicators of the Manufacturing sector saw year-on-year decrease on account of shrinking domestic exports upon weakening external demand amidst the global financial crisis. Value of Production & Other Receipts of the Manufacturing sector decreased by 17.7% over 2007 to MOP11.40 billion, attributable to the decline of those of the Manufacturing of Wearing Apparel and Textiles that dropped by 19.9% and 14.4% to MOP6.15 billion and MOP1.64 billion respectively. Gross Value Added of the Manufacturing sector fell by 22.3% to MOP2.12 billion, while Intermediate Consumption and Gross Fixed Capital Formation went down by 16.6% and 83.6% respectively. On the contrary, with increasing consumption of electricity and introduction of natural gas in electricity generation, Value of Production & Other Receipts of Electricity, Gas & Water Supply increased by 10.7% over 2007 to MOP2.90 billion, and Gross Value Added rose by 15.6% to MOP1.43 billion; Intermediate Consumption registered an increase of 6.3% to MOP1.47 billion. Upon a completed renovation of the electricity distribution network and the operation of a new natural gas supply company, Gross Fixed Capital Formation of the Electricity, Gas & Water Supply sector rose significantly by 325.4% to MOP1.42 billion.
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CALL FOR SERVICE PROVIDER TENDERS FOR 2010MIECF
X November 2009 – Macao: For two consecutive years, the international community of government leaders, businesses, professionals (including environmentalists, climatologists, scientists, researchers and experts), financial institutions, investors and a host of non-government organizations has converged in Macao to actively participate in the collective effort to address the issue of environment that is of common global concern. The Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum & Exhibition or MIECF, a Macao Initiative, is also contributing to China’s efforts to achieve specific objectives to control greenhouse gas emissions and enhance capacity of adaptation to climate change and R&D to keep up with international advanced research as well as to raise public awareness and improve conditions for humanity. From its launch in 2008 through to 2009, MIECF has grown from strength to strength and regarded as a success by delegates, exhibitors and the international community. Now, MIECF returns for its third edition in 2010 from April 8 to 10, at the Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel. As the 2010MIECF Event Manager, Munich International Trade Fairs Limited is inviting interested service providers to participate in this Call for Tender, for appointment of service contracts. The range of services being tendered for are: § Stand Contracting
§ Freight Forwarding
§ Travel & Local Arrangements
§ Accounting Service
§ Domestic Event Co-ordinator/Public Relations
§ Registration Services Interested parties are welcome to submit their tenders. Submission deadline is 20 November, 2009. Full information on the tender procedures and specifications can be obtained form the website at www.macaomiecf.com.
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Macau SAR government to relieve salinity and encourage water conservation
Coordinator of the Working Group on the Development of a Water Conservation Society as well as Director of the Maritime Administration of Macau SAR, Susana Wong announced in a press conference this morning that the SAR government would launch relieving measures to help the community, especially the disadvantaged groups, to tackle the salinity problem. At the same time, the “Household Water Conservation Rebate Program” will be launched. According to Susana Wong, when the salinity level of potable water reaches moderate (yellow, over salinity index 250) for over 5 days, the relieving measures will be launched through the Social Welfare Bureau. The measures include providing subsidies to the regular beneficiaries, three kinds of disadvantaged households and 134 subsidized social service facilities of the bureau. Also, the government will distribute bottled water to people benefited from the Short-term Food Assistance Program. All of the measures are expected to benefit at least 35,000 people and the total subsidized amount will be around 1,850,000 patacas every month. The Working Group will launch “Household Water Conservation Rebate Program” today, in order to encourage people to reduce water consumption and combat salinity together. Households who are able to reduce water consumption by 10% or more, from early November this year to late February next year, compared to that of the same period last year, will be given a water fee rebate. The more the water reduction, the higher the rebate will be. The maximum rebate is up to 50 patacas for each household. During the salt tide, municipal water use will be reduced, such as the amount of water used for watering plants and the frequency of hosing down streets.
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Resultados do Inquérito ao Sector dos Serviços – 2008 (a administração de imóveis, actividades de segurança, limpeza industrial, publicidade e organização de conferências e exposições)
O âmbito do inquérito ao sector dos serviços de 2008 abrange a administração de imóveis; actividades de segurança; limpeza industrial; actividades de publicidade e organização de conferências e exposições. De acordo com o resultado do inquérito, nestes ramos de actividade económica registaram-se crescimentos anuais nos principais indicadores da exploração em 2008. No ano 2008, o ramo de actividade da administração de imóveis dispunha de 165 unidades em actividade e tinham ao serviço 4.928 pessoas, que aumentaram 5,1% face a 2007. As receitas e as despesas totais deste ramo alcançaram 852 e 640 milhões de Patacas, respectivamente, crescendo 10,8% e 7,6%. O valor acrescentado bruto, que reflecte o contributo económico do sector, foi de 549 milhões de Patacas, tendo subido 11,6% face ao ano de 2007, e a formação bruta de capital fixo cifrou-se em 3,8 milhões de Patacas, registando uma diminuição notória de 81,2%. Em 2008, existiam 11 estabelecimentos de actividades de segurança, isto é, mais 1 do que em 2007, que empregaram 3.844 pessoas (+5,2%). As receitas e despesas totais situaram-se nos 548 e 446 milhões de Patacas e expandiram-se 19,1% e 24,3% respectivamente. O valor acrescentado bruto atingiu os 477 milhões de Patacas, crescendo 18,9% em relação a 2007, enquanto que a formação bruta de capital fixo se cifrou em 9,4 milhões de Patacas, correspondentes a um acréscimo de 46,7%. No ano de 2008, verificou-se que 100 estabelecimentos procederam a limpeza industrial, ou seja, mais 13 do que em 2007 e estes empregaram 2.824 pessoas (+14,5%). As receitas e despesas totais atingiram 276 e 240 milhões de Patacas, respectivamente, apresentando subidas de 23,5% e 26,2%, em comparação com o ano de 2007. O valor acrescentado bruto destes foi de 225 milhões de Patacas, aumentando 29,3% relativamente a 2007, ao passo que 4,3 milhões de Patacas corresponderam a formação bruta de capital fixo, que desceu 21,2%. No ano em análise havia 322 estabelecimentos de publicidade, mais 22 do que em 2007, os quais empregaram 976 pessoas, subindo 19,9%. Os empregados renumerados do ramo da publicidade foram apenas 73,7%, situando num nível relativamente mais baixo do que dos outros ramos de actividade económica deste inquérito. As receitas totais foram de 307 milhões de Patacas e expandiram-se 25,6%, das quais 186 milhões de Patacas pertenciam a publicidade (60,6% do total) e 113 milhões de Patacas à organização de conferências e exposições. As despesas totais atingiram 278 milhões de Patacas, tendo subido 32,4%, que se deve principalmente aos aumentos de 44,5% no custo das compras (162 milhões de Patacas) e 39,7% nas despesas com o pessoal (74,5 milhões de Patacas). O valor acrescentado bruto e a formação bruta de capital fixo cifrou-se em 103 e 8,4 milhões de Patacas, respectivamente, e aumentaram 19,8% e 87,6%. Em 2008, os serviços de organização de conferências e exposições foram disponibilizados por um total de 16 estabelecimentos (mais 6 do que em 2007), que tinham 64 trabalhadores. As receitas totais alcançaram 52,7 milhões de Patacas e subiram 4,5 vezes, das quais 49,7 milhões de Patacas pertenciam à organização de conferências e exposições, ou seja, 94,4% do total. As despesas totais atingiram 48,7 milhões de Patacas e elevaram-se 3,6 vezes, das quais o custo das compras cresceu substancialmente 5,5 vezes em relação a 2007, atingindo 36,1 milhões de Patacas. O valor acrescentado bruto foi de cerca de 10,4 milhões de Patacas e assinalaram-se 0,4 milhões de Patacas na formação bruta de capital fixo, crescendo 425,5% e 44,2%, respectivamente.
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Demographic Statistics for the 3rd Quarter 2009
Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the population of Macao showed continuous decrease upon reduction on the number of non-resident workers; consequently, the population estimate totalled 541,200 as at 30 September 2009, down by 3,000 from end-June. In the third quarter of 2009, there were 1,224 live births, up by 17.8% quarter-to-quarter, with male babies accounting for 52.2% (639). The number of mortality cases totalled 373 and the major causes of death were Neoplasms and Diseases of the Circulatory System. Meanwhile, 5 cases of fetal mortality were recorded. The Health Bureau received 3,702 cases of Notifiable diseases in this quarter, consisting mainly of Influenza A/H1N1 (Swine flu) (2,847 cases), Influenza (478 cases) and Enterovirus Infection (137 cases). In addition, 828 cases of marriage registration were recorded, up by 13.3% over the second quarter of 2009. In the third quarter of 2009, there were 1,111 Mainland immigrants moving to Macao with One-way Exit Permit, a quarter-to-quarter increase of 80.7% (496); meanwhile, 334 illegal immigrants were repatriated, down by 26.4% quarter-to-quarter. Moreover, a total of 2,697 individuals were authorized to reside in Macao, up by 459 quarter-to-quarter. Total number of non-resident workers stood at 77,239 at the end of the third quarter, down by 6,377 quarter-to-quarter.
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Macao residents invited to share photos on exhibition website
(Macao – 08 November 2009) Macao residents are invited to take part in a photo sharing and voting campaign held on a dedicated website which will be launched tomorrow to promote the Decade of Achievements Exhibition for the 10th Anniversary of the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR) in Beijing. The Exhibition hosted by the MSAR Government and organised by the Government Information Bureau (GCS) is scheduled to open at the Capital Museum in Beijing from December this year to January next year. Participants will be able to share with their fellow compatriots on the mainland the joy of the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the MSAR by uploading photos on the Exhibition website (www.macao10exb.gov.mo) that capture memorable moments of life in the MSAR in the past decade. The photo sharing campaign will commence on 10 November 2009. Participants in this activity will be able to join a lucky draw to win round-trip air tickets to Beijing or other prizes. Uploaded photos may be displayed at the Exhibition. Photos can be uploaded on the website starting from 00:00 am on 10 November 2009 until 00:00 am on 23 November 2009. Participants are required to hold a valid Macao Resident Identity Card. Meanwhile members of the public will be able to vote for their favourite photo(s) uploaded on the website from 00:00 am on 24 November 2009 until 00:00 am on 4 December 2009. In addition, the website features interactive games to let visitors know more about Macao and take part in a lucky draw to win special prizes. Last but not least, the website also offers the latest news and information about the Exhibition, including descriptions of the exhibits. The Exhibition aims to showcase the changes, developments and progress made by the MSAR in different fields, thereby reflecting the boundless vitality of the principles of “One country, two systems”, “Macao people governing Macao” and a high degree of autonomy as well as Macao people’s deep-rooted love for their country and the MSAR. It also intends to project an even brighter future for the MSAR. The Exhibition features a rich variety of innovative displays by blending multimedia contents with interactive elements. Through a creative combination of texts, pictures, video, music, objects, lighting, sound effects and scale models, it gives visitors an all-round experience of the decade-long journey taken by the MSAR since its establishment. Upon its conclusion in Beijing, the Exhibition is scheduled to tour several major mainland cities before finally opening in Macao with the blessings of fellow compatriots across the country.
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UM Holds Consultation on New Campus Design
Press Release of University of Macau: On 5th November 2009, the University of Macau (UM) held a university-wide consultation session on the master plan of its new campus. The event aimed to enable students, staff, alumni and University Council members to have a better understanding of the concepts for the new campus planning, as well as to encourage their involvement in and support for the project. The Chief Architect Mr. He Jingtang, a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and his team were invited to present and discuss the blueprint with UM members. In January 2009, the Central Government released the Outline of the Plan for the Reform and Development of the Pearl River Delta, which strengthened the collaboration between Guangdong, Macao and Hong Kong . Within this framework, on 27 June 2009, the Standing Committee of the 11th National People’s Congress approved a bill authorizing the Macao SAR to manage the UM’s new campus on Hengqin Island according to the laws of the SAR. With this unprecedent support from the Central Government, the Governments of Guangdong, Zhuhai, and the Macao SAR, UM’s long-dreamed-of new campus is becoming a reality and will serve as a pilot project that provides an innovative model of cooperation between Guangdong and Macao. With the Guangdong-Macao collaboration, Mr. He Jingtang, a renowned world-class architect, has been invited to take charge of the master plan and design of the campus. Mr. He Jingtang presently serves as the Dean of the School of Architecture, the Dean of Architecture Design and Research Institute, as well as the Director of the Academic Committee of the State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Building Science in South China University of Technology (SCUT). He is also Vice Chairman of the Architectural Society of China. Mr. He has been responsible for more than 100 major architectural design projects and has won more than 40 outstanding design awards at the national, ministerial and provincial levels, including the top architectural award “National Liang Sicheng Architecture Prize”. Indeed, he is one of the architects receiving highest number of design awards in the People’s Republic of China. In his recent design of the “Oriental Crown”, the China Pavilion for the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, Mr. He produced a delightful visual feast and a perfect embodiment of traditional Chinese culture. According to the presentation, the new UM campus will be a people-oriented, sustainable, modern, IT-based and garden-style campus. Its environment will be conducive to whole person education and be characterized by a blend of Chinese and western styles. Furthermore, the campus planning will reflect four striking characteristics, namely “a blend of Chinese and western cultural elements”, “a combination of mountain and sea views”, “a reflection of the cultural characteristics of Southern China”, and “an architectural style of South European flavor”. The aim is to create an efficient, eco-friendly campus with a liberal, comfortable, and culturally-rich environment to encourage inter-personal interaction and enable UM to better fulfill its missions. A residential college system will be introduced to enhance undergraduate education. Residential college buildings and faculty buildings will be ideally located and interconnected to facilitate cross-faculty interaction. The consultation session was attended by more than 500 academic and administrative staff members, students, alumni, and University Council members. They showed keen interests in the project by asking critical questions and raising insightful comments and constructive suggestions. Many inputs were truly conducive to further improvement of the planning. In addition to this event, UM has also created other channels to facilitate a prompt and efficient discussion with the UM members on the new campus project, such as launching of a special website, e-bulletins, promotional leaflets, and display boards on campus. It is hoped that more valuable suggestions will be put forward through these channels.
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Company Statistics for the 3rd Quarter 2009
Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that a total of 651 new companies were incorporated in the third quarter of 2009, up by 2.0% year-on-year, with the total value of registered capital rising by 13.7% to MOP75 million. Among these new companies, 224 were operating in Wholesale and Retail, with the registered capital amounting to MOP35 million; meanwhile, 122 were operating in Business Services and 79 in Construction. Furthermore, 467 new companies (71.7% of total) were incorporated with registered capital under MOP50,000 and the respective value of capital (MOP13 million) made up merely 17.9% of the total. Meanwhile, there were 8 new companies incorporated with registered capital over MOP1,000,000 and the value of capital accounted for 44.2% of the total (MOP33 million). In addition, over eighty percent of the new incorporations were limited companies. Capital of the new companies came mainly from Macao (MOP42 million), Mainland China (MOP26 million) and Hong Kong (MOP4 million). Capital from Guangdong Province (MOP6 million) took the lead among the Pan-Pearl River Delta provinces. Analyzed by place of residence of the shareholders, 410 new companies were established solely by Macao shareholders, 90 were joint ventures between shareholders from Macao and other countries or regions; meanwhile, there were 151 new companies incorporated by shareholders from countries or regions other than Macao. In the third quarter of 2009, number of companies in dissolution totalled 95 and the value of registered capital amounted to MOP14 million, of which the registered capital of 18 Construction companies in dissolution accounted for 20.9% of the total.
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IFT signed cooperation agreement with University of Jinan (Shandong)
Institute For Tourism Studies, Macao signed a cooperation agreement with the University of Jinan, Shandong Province on 5 November, to co-organise the “2010 Tourism Resources and Management Conference”. President of IFT, Dr. Fanny Vong and Vice Dean, Faculty of Economics, University of Jinan, Professor Zhao Wei signed the agreement. IFT always strives to seek diversified development and expansion of international networks. Collaboration with overseas organisations and universities help to enhance the standard of the programmes. The signing of the agreement reinforced the ties between IFT and UJN, to co-organise the “2010 Tourism Resources and Management Conference”, tentatively in February 2010. Professors and scholars from various institutions will meet in Macao to share their knowledge and experience on different topics, such as the status and opportunities of tourism industry in the Mainland and Macao, the management of tourism resources, conservation of natural and cultural heritage, and challenges in sustainable development of tourism industry. University of Jinan is a comprehensive university under the administration of Shandong Province. The university has been active in academic exchanges and cooperation with educational institutions abroad, and has established relations with various colleges and universities in Europe, North America and Asia, with over 100 scholars around the globe as visiting professors. UJN expects that, through the co-organisation of the conference next year, UJN will establish a closer cooperative relationship with IFT. In recent years, IFT actively participates in academic exchanges, trainings and researches on cultural heritage. As the Knowledge Management Hub of the Asian Academy for Heritage Management, as well as the executive member of the UNESCAP Network of Asia-Pacific Education and Training Institutes in Tourism (APETIT), IFT strives to promote the long-term development of heritage education in Asia. By tightening the cooperation with Jinan University (Shandong) and other well-established and recognised higher education institutions, IFT expands students’ cultural and academic exchange opportunities, enhances Macao’s tourism and hospitality education and gains international recognition
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