The 29th Macao International Trade & Investment Fair (29th MIF) and the Macao Franchise Expo (2024MFE) will kick off tomorrow and run through Saturday at The Venetian Macao’s Cotai Expo, with new features announced during yesterday’s press conference at the venue.
This year’s MIF is themed “Economic Diversification and Development Opportunities”, while MFE is themed “Brands Gathering with Business Opportunities”. They have a total area of 38,000 square metres and feature 10 exhibition zones, earmarked to attract over 1,300 exhibitors.
Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) President Vincent U U Sang told the media yesterday that among the new features is one extra working day to enable more time for business discussions and for attendees to avoid the weekend influx of tourists.
Moreover, the exhibition features “the broadest scope of Greater Bay Area [GBA] elements to date”, U said, having 195 exhibitors from the GBA, an increase of 112 exhibitors year on year, as well as 80 GBA delegations, being “significantly higher” than last year.
U added that Shenzhen, MIF’s partner city this year, will have over 40 enterprises at the 405-square-metre Shenzhen Pavilion. Moreover, the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin will host the Hengqin Pavilion, which comprises over 60 enterprises in nearly 900 square metres of space, U added.
U noted that a “globally renowned China-chic tea brand” will make its Macau debut at MFE, with 7,525 complimentary teas and coffees to be offered for the dual celebrations, the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the 25th anniversary of the establishment of Macau SAR, while “leading-edge technologies” will also be showcased.
Moreover, this year’s exhibitions feature 88 concurrent events, a 22 percent increase from 72 events last year.
A “Portuguese-Speaking Countries Market Zone” with over 180 exhibitors from nine PSCs, along with 10 concurrent events related to PSCs, is also featured.
Meanwhile, U, using simultaneous interpretation, told the media during yesterday’s Q&A session that the China-Portuguese Speaking Countries Economic and Trade Expo (Macao) C-PLPEX will not be held this year, with its next edition instead slated for 2025, adding that in future it will not be held annually.
C-PLPEX had its first edition last year, during which participation had met expectations, according to U. He also emphasised that PSCs have played a significant role since MIF’s first edition.
Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) President Vincent U U Sang poses with a robot showcased at yesterday’s press conference for the the 29th Macao International Trade & Investment Fair (29th MIF) and the Macao Franchise Expo 2024 (2024MFE) at The Venetian Macao’s Cotai Expo. – Photo: Rui Pastorin
