The 24^th Macao International Trade & Investment Fair (24^th MIF) and 2019 Portuguese Speaking Countries Products and Services Exhibition (Macao) (2019PLPEX) kicked off today (October 17) at The Venetian Macao. Chief Executive of Macao SAR Chui Sai On attended the opening ceremony. Traders from all over the world gathered in Macao for this grand event to expand business opportunities together. 

At the opening ceremony, Secretary for Economy and Finance of the Macao Special Administrative Region Leong Vai Tac indicated that this year marks the 70^th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China and the 20^th anniversary of the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region, and the city is faced with more new opportunities for development. The Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, released at the outset of this year, positions Macao as “One Centre, One Platform and One Base” (a world centre of tourism and leisure, a commercial and trade co-operation service platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, and a base for exchange and co-operation where Chinese culture is the mainstream and diverse cultures coexist). It also lists Macao as one of the four core cities in the Greater Bay Area and one of the “core engines” for regional development, which provides greater support for Macao to accelerate the moderately diversified development of its economy. According to him, Macao should also meet new requirements and give further play to its advantages of close contact with Portuguese-speaking countries, Southeast Asia and the European Union. With a new co-operation concept “+ Macao”, and the city’s language and culture as a bridge, economic and trade co-operation as the theme, industry matching and professional services as the support, and common development as the goal, Macao will support the Greater Bay Area’s high-quality opening to the outside world while expanding overseas markets in Portuguese-speaking countries and countries and regions along the Belt and Road. He added that Macao will also enhance the service quality and international competitiveness of its convention and exhibition industry, give full play to its leading role, and provide an effective matching platform for enterprises and trade promotion agencies at home and abroad. By doing so, Macao can nurture to its moderately diversified economic development and bring the platform into full play.

On the first day of the MIF, the 9^th Industrial and Commercial Summit between Jiangsu-Macao‧Portuguese Speaking Countries, Jiangsu-Macao-Cabo Verde Co-operation Forum organised by Jiangsu Provincial People’s Government, with the Cabo Verde TradeInvest and Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute as the co-operative organisations took place. Other activities such as the Protocol Signing Ceremony, the Macao Ideas Products Promotion Workshop, the Fujian, Macao and Portuguese-Speaking Countries Economic Exchange Networking Session, the Integrated Development of Zhuhai and Macao and Gather Strength for a Win-Win Situation – Zhuhai-Macao Co-operation Promotion Conference and Macao Fashion Festival 2019 were also held.

The 24^th MIF covers an area of about 24,000 square metres and has almost 1,500 booths. It is equipped with the Cabo Verde Pavilion set up by the “partner country” and Jiangsu Pavilion by the “partner province”. In addition, the Innotech and Startups Zone, Cross-Border New Retail Pavilion and Brazilian Products Pavilion are set up for the first time. Meanwhile, the Chinese Provinces and Cities Trade and Investment Themed Pavilion,  Countries/Regions Trade and Investment Themed Pavilion, and Thematic Exhibition Area continue to be some of the highlights of the fair, covering fields of investment environment and projects from home and abroad, featured finance, food and beverages, cultural and creative industry, smart technologies, fashion design, health care, e-commerce, and SME products exhibition. Many exhibitors and traders were able to expand commercial network and discuss businesses on the first day of the fair.

The 2019PLPEX is around 6,000 square metres in area and has approximately 250 booths. The China-Portuguese-Speaking Countries Cooperation Retrospective Exhibition debuts at the 2019PLPEX, demonstrating the achievements of Macao as a bridge promoting co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. The Portuguese-Speaking Countries Wine and Food Business Matching Seminar, Macao and Portuguese-Speaking Countries Commodity Hall Promotion Conference, a number of cultural performances from Portuguese-speaking countries, and the PSC Fashion Show were on the first day’s schedule as well, all of which created a rich and lively Portuguese atmosphere at the venue.