The 17th International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum & Exhibition (IIICF), held at The Venetian Macao’s Cotai Expo last week, concluded with the signing of 21 cooperation agreements totalling US$9.9 billion (79.9 billion patacas), covering sectors such as transport, construction, energy, power, mining, and non-ferrous smelting, according to a statement released by the Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) on Friday.
According to the statement, the 21 agreements involve 15 countries and regions, with multiple deals signed between Chinese companies and Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking countries including Angola, Brazil, Chile, and El Salvador.
The three-day forum, held more than 200 business matching sessions and over 250 thematic and supporting activities, and attracted over 3,500 government, business and industry leaders from more than 70 countries and regions, while an exhibition area of about 8,000 square metres showcased the latest technologies and cooperation opportunities, the statement said.
The statement noted that the forum was focused on green energy with low carbon transformation and infrastructure upgrades driven by digital intelligence technology, aimed to boost the extension of traditional infrastructure to new infrastructure, and provided a practical platform to precisely match market needs and explore international cooperation.
IPIM President Che Weng Keong noted that the strong response to the agreements reached at the forum reflects the opportunities and prospects for infrastructure cooperation between the Chinese mainland, Macau, and Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking countries. He added that Macau will continue to strengthen its role as a platform between China and Lusophone and Hispanic nations, positioning itself as a key bridgehead in the country’s high-level opening, the statement added.
Meanwhile, over 95 percent of the custom-built booths at the exhibition generated more than 10 million patacas in revenue for the local MICE construction industry, Che said, adding that the forum also attracted a large number of high-end business visitors to Macau, fully demonstrating the diverse economic spillover effects of international professional exhibitions on the city’s economy, the statement noted.
This undated handout photo provided by the Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) on Friday shows a signing ceremony for the Sadara Cogeneration Project in Saudi Arabia, at The Venetian Macao’s Cotai Expo.
