The four-day 1st China-Portuguese-speaking Countries Economic and Trade Expo (Macao) (C-PLPEX), 28th Macao International Trade and Investment Fair (MIF) and Macao Franchise Expo 2023 (MFE) ended yesterday, and Macau Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) President Vincent U U Sang told reporters in the morning that the number of overseas trade visitors to the three simultaneously held fairs had increased “significantly”, with more young local people interested in becoming an entrepreneur having taken part in the MFE, indicating a “greater” willingness to strike a deal among the exhibitors than in previous years.
U made the remarks during a group media interview at The Venetian Macao’s Cotai Expo. He did not disclose the number of overseas trade visitors, merely saying that it had “significantly” risen compared to last year’s fairs.
The three concurrent fairs kicked off on Thursday. The first day was open only to trade visitors. There was free admission to the general public from Friday through yesterday.
U said that quite a few exhibitors told the organisers that they were satisfied with the number of visitors during the first three days. He also said that according to past experience, the crowds usually peak in the afternoon of the last day of the fairs.
According to U, in line with the government’s “1+4” strategy of ensuring the local economy’s appropriately diversified development, this year’s three fairs improved in three aspects, namely, the improvement of their level and scale with the participation by eight high-level ministerial delegations from the mainland and Portuguese-speaking countries, their improved “transaction function” and their greater momentum to contributing to the appropriate diversification of the local economy.
The government’s “1+4” development strategy aims for appropriate economic diversification by promoting four main new industries – big health, modern finance, high-tech, conventions and exhibitions, as well as culture and sport, apart from the long-established tourism and leisure industry.
U noted that about 1,000 business matching sessions were scheduled during the four-day event, a 30 percent increase year on year, with the signing of 101 business deals, a growth of 8.6 percent compared with last year’s fairs, adding that the projects involving Portuguese-speaking countries accounted for 15 percent of the total, with two mainland provinces and two Portuguese-speaking countries having reached “purchase intentions” for edible sugar and bulk agricultural products, while in terms of the business matching sessions among Macau’s enterprises, four local companies decided to partner with Macau and mainland e-commerce platforms.
U also said that two halal restaurants from the mainland were interested in expanding their catering business to Macau and were looking for local partners at the fairs, which, U said, he believed would help attract international customers to the city and, thus enhance the fairs’ momentum to contribute to the appropriate diversification of the local economy.
For the first time, IPIM made use of tablet computers to launch its “Matching GoGo” business matching service to help MIF exhibitors directly introduce products and negotiate business deals with other enterprises at their booths. U pointed out during the interview that as of yesterday morning 20 exhibitors had already used the new service, with the initial feedback being “positive”.
Fairs log over 60,000 people-times
Meanwhile, an IPIM statement yesterday evening noted that the three fairs covering a total of 20 themed zones in a 37,000-square metre area received the offline participation of exhibitors from 15 countries and regions, as well as more than 160 groups from various provinces and cities in the mainland, Southeast Asia, Portuguese-speaking countries and Hong Kong, as well as Macau, totalling nearly 3,500 people, of whom 30 percent were government delegation members while 60 percent were professional buyers.
The statement also noted that the four-day event recorded over 60,000 people-times, showing an improvement in overall performance.
More than 60 activities were carried out during the four consecutive days of the three concurrent fairs, including nine thematic business matching sessions, four “One Exhibition, Two Places” activities in both Macau and the Guangdong-Macau In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, as well as multiple fora, among others, the statement noted.
Macau Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) President Vincent U U Sang introduces reporters to IPIM’s “Matching GoGo” business matching service during yesterday’s group interview at The Venetian Macao’s Cotai Expo. – Photo: Yuki Lei
