Macao seeks to build up business platform with largest annual trade fair

MACAO, June 11 (Xinhua) -- As the 13th Macao International Trade and Investment Fair (MIF) is set to open later this year, the city will step up the effort to establish itself as an "efficient business platform" for the region, said Macao's economic chief in a press statement released on Wednesday.

The event, organized by the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), will be held from Oct. 23 to 26 this year, and the organizer has sent out 10,000 invitation letters to government departments, enterprises, and institutes inside and outside of China.

"MIF highlights the roles of Macao as an economic and trade co-operation service platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries, a regional co-operation service platform for the Pan-Pearl River Delta as well as a liaison and co-operation service platform for international Chinese entrepreneurs," said Tam Pak Yuen, Secretary for Economy and Finance of the Special Administration Region (SAR).

Last year, the 12th edition of the MIF attracted 236 delegations from 50 countries and regions. To build on the success, the organizer intends to add some new pavilions to this year's fair, namely 2010 Shanghai World Expo, Franchise/Agency Business and Taiwan pavilions.

Some 800 exhibition booths will be established during the eventthis year, which is more or less the same with last year, according to Jackson Chang, acting president of IPIM, at today's press conference.

As the city's largest annual trade event, the organizer is also keen to support local small and medium sized enterprises (SME) to make use of the MIF platform to open up new business opportunities.

IPIM announced at the press conference that it will offer subsidy of up to 5,800 patacas (725 U.S. dollars) each booth to local SMEs for their participation in the event.

He also reiterated that the holding of MIF is not a signal that Macao wants to compete with neighboring regions in the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) industry, but to capitalize on the mature regional market conditions and create more business opportunities for local and international enterprises.

In addition to exhibitions, the organizer will put in more effort in the collection of business matching and investment projects during the event period of this year. Meanwhile, conferences and forums on investment, regional cooperation, informatics, etc. will also be held during the event.