The Macau Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) said in a statement yesterday that with the reopening of Macau’s borders, Macau will hold the UFI Asia-Pacific Conference 2024, which will be the second time the city will be hosting the conference since 2008.
According to its website, UFI initially stood for “Union des Foires Internationales” or “Union of International Fairs”.
The statement noted that the annual conference is held in different Asian regions each year, aiming to encourage MICE industry players in Asia to learn more about the latest regional and international developments in the industry, as well as provide a platform to interact with international MICE institutions to jointly promote the industry’s presence.
The statement said that IPIM Acting President Vincent U U Sang led a delegation of MICE industry representatives to attend the UFI Asia-Pacific Conference 2023 in Kuala Lumpur last week, where Macau was announced as the next holder of the conference which will take place next year.
U also met with Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) Chief Executive Officer Abdul Khani Daud, UFI President Michael Duck and UFI Managing Director/CEO Kai Hattendorf to exchange information on Macau’s MICE industry.
IPIM collaborated with the MICE industry in 2019 and formed a bidding team, winning the hosting right of UFI Asia-Pacific Conference 2020, which was postponed to 2024 due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation.
The statement underlined that Macau hosting the conference is a “great boost for both IPIM and the MICE industry”.
With UFI’s international influence, MICE managers and professional organisers worldwide will gather in Macau, which will enhance the city’s international status and influence, create possibilities for international cooperation, and advance its MICE industry and associated industries to further enhance Macau’s appropriately diversified economic development, the statement noted.
The statement added that IPIM and MICE delegates also exchanged views with over 190 “influential” UFI members, among others, and introduced the strengths and features of Macau’s MICE industry. The delegates also learnt about the new trends of the global MICE industry and new patterns of MICE planning.
The representatives also participated in a business networking breakfast held by the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) in Kuala Lumpur, where around 30 ICCA Asia-Pacific members also joined the event.
This undated handout photo provided by IPIM yesterday shows a representative providing information about Macau during the UFI Asia-Pacific Conference 2023 in Kuala Lumpur last week.
