The 15th Macao International Trade and Investment Fair (MIF) opened on Thursday, which attracted 318 delegations from more than 60 countries and featured over 1,400 exhibition booths.
With the theme of "Co-operation -- Key to Business Opportunities", this year's MIF, held at the Venetian-Macao-Resort- Hotel from Thursday through Sunday, has over 30 themed exhibition areas and is scheduled to hold over 38 international forums, conferences and promotion sessions.
While further enhancing ties between Macao and provinces in mainland China, Portuguese speaking countries and the European Union, the Fair also showcases the business opportunities presented by regional collaboration and the prospect of the moderate diversification of Macao's economy, said Tam Pak Yuen, the secretary for economy and finance of Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR), in his opening speech of the event.
As a government-sponsored fair, the MIF has undergone 14 years of continuous development and nowadays it is a UFI (Global Association of the Exhibition Industry) approved event.
With the strengthening and execution of CEPA between Macao and the mainland China; the gradual implementation of the "Outline of the Plan for the Reform and Development of the Pearl River Delta", the "General Development Plan for Hengqin Island" and the " Guangdong-Macao Co-operation Framework Agreement" soon to be signed, the SAR government has been endeavoring to develop Macao into an important platform for regional cooperation.
With such regional advantages, there are tremendous business opportunities evolving in Macao and neighboring regions, in such a way that more and more investors have chosen Macao as their prime destination, Tam also said.
According to the statistical data from the SAR government, the MIF venue will occupy an area of 30,000 square meters, with 760 exhibitors from home and abroad and 1,400 booths, corresponding to a 30-percent increase over the last edition.
