Macau to focus on BRI in its service role b/w China and PSCs: Lei

3 simultaneous trade fairs have highest-ever No. of exhibitors: IPIM

During yesterday’s opening ceremony of the ongoing 1^st China-Portuguese-speaking Countries Economic and Trade Expo (Macao) (1^st C-PLPEX), Secretary for Economy and Finance Lei Wai Nong pledged that the local government will continue with its work to enable Macau to make better use of its role as a bridge between China and Portuguese-speaking countries by “proactively” grasping the opportunities created by the nation’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The 1^st C-PLPEX is being held concurrently with the 28^th Macao International Trade and Investment Fair (28^th MIF) and the Macao Franchise Expo 2023 (2023MFE) at The Venetian Macao’s Cotai Expo. The three four-day events, which started yesterday, are being held through Sunday.

The three events were only open to trade visitors yesterday, while they are open to members of the general public with free admission from today until Sunday.

The 1^st C-PLPEX is an upgrade from the previous Portuguese Speaking Countries Products and Services Exhibition (Macao) (PLPEX).

Previously, PLPEX was concurrently held with MIF and MFE.

The three events take up four exhibition halls covering two floors, with a total area of 37,000 square metres, up by around 30 percent from last year.

A statement by the Macau Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) yesterday noted that the number of exhibitors has increased by over 10 percent from last year, including about 1,200 enterprises and organisations, around 430 of which are Macau-based exhibitors, while about 770 come from 14 countries and regions, including mainland China, nine Portuguese-speaking countries, Thailand, and Japan. The statement noted that the three events this year have the highest-ever number of exhibitors.

Delivering a speech during yesterday’s opening ceremony of the 1^st C-PLPEX, Lei said that the first organisation of C-PLPEX demonstrates the central government’s strong support for Macau’s development into a business platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries.

Lei pledged that the local government will continue with its drive to develop Macau into “One Centre, One Platform and One Base”, which refers to the local government’s aim to develop the city into a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure, an economic and trade cooperation platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, and a cultural exchange and cooperation base with Chinese culture as its mainstream and the coexistence of different cultures.

Lei said that the local government will proactively seize the opportunities created by the BRI with the aim of enabling Macau to make better use of its role as a bridge between China and Portuguese-speaking countries serving the nation’s new economic development pattern of “dual circulation”.

Lei also underlined that the Macau government will make good use of the ongoing development of the Guangdong-Macau In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin with the aim of bringing a higher level of certainty, stability and positivity to the economic and trade cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries and to Macau’s role as a platform between the two sides.

Also delivering a speech at the opening ceremony, Fan Shijie, who heads the Department of Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau Affairs of the Ministry of Commerce (MOC), said that China will strengthen its cooperation with Portuguese-speaking countries in their joint participation in the BRI, adding that this will enable Macau to become an important platform serving the 21^st Century Maritime Silk Road. The Belt and Road (B&R) refers to Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21^st century Maritime Silk Road.

Fan also said that the central government will continue to support Macau in developing itself into a trade centre for food products manufactured in Portuguese-speaking countries as well as a business service centre for small and medium businesses from China and Portugues-speaking countries.

Fan said that the central government will support Macau in developing its China-Portuguese-speaking countries platform with the aim of serving the nation’s high-quality B&R cooperation.

Meanwhile, speaking to reporters after the opening ceremony, IPIM President Vincent U U Sang said that the three events this year have attracted around 2,300 trade visitors, an increase of about 90 percent from last year.

Pointing out that the three events together have around 2,000 booths this year, U said that it took workers only three days to complete setting up the booths. U also said that the good booking performance in nearby restaurants indicated that large MICE events could help boost the city’s economic performance.

U underlined that the three events together this year are of the largest scale ever. 

Secretary for Economy and Finance Lei Wai Nong addresses yesterday’s opening ceremony of the 1st China-Portuguese-speaking Countries Economic and Trade Expo (Macao) (1st C-PLPEX) at The Venetian’s Cotai Expo. – Photo: GCS

Fan Shijie, who heads the Ministry of Commerce’s (MOC) Department of Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau Affairs, addresses yesterday’s opening ceremony of the 1st C-PLPEX. – Photo: GCS

Macau Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) President Vincent U U Sang talks to reporters at The Venetian Macao’s Cotai Expo yesterday. – Photo: Yuki Lei