MIECF | Environmental fair to focus on air quality

The annual Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum and Exhibition (MIECF) is set to take place from tomorrow to Saturday, hosting its eighth edition at the Venetian Macao. For the first time, “air quality” has become the focus of MIECF’s activities.
Themed “Green Economy – Solutions for Clean Air,” the fair will emphasize the solutions and business opportunities available in the pursuit of clean air. It will consist of an international forum, exhibition, as well as business matching and networking activities, aiming to provide a green platform designed to promote the environmental industry’s development.
During the three-day event, more than fifty environmental experts, corporation executives, and policy makers from different countries and regions will deliver speeches in a series of sessions; namely, “The business case for better air quality: solutions for the commercial and industrial sectors,” “Reviewing air quality and the transportation industry,” “Strategizing climate change mitigation – innovation in policy and technology,” and “Clean urban air – lessons learnt and future trajectories.”
For this year’s keynote speech, the organizer has invited the “mother of sustainable development,” Ms Gro Harlem Brundtland, who served as former Prime Minister of Norway, former Chair of the World Commission on Environmental Development (WCED), and UN Special Envoy on Climate Change. Besides a speech in the morning of the opening day, she will also share her experience with participants during a special interview session on the afternoon of 27 March.
“More and more scholars have been attracted to the MIECF with the purpose to meet the speakers,” said the Executive Director of the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), Ms Irene Lau, at a press conference held yesterday.
This year’s MIECF has also attracted over 450 exhibitors from 22 countries and regions to showcase their products and services at the “Green Showcase.” In the venue that covers an area of 16,900 square meters, international brands and environmental technology suppliers will present solutions for energy efficiency, renewable energy, green building, green transportation, and waste and water management, as well as air purification technology and the monitoring and treatment of atmospheric emissions.
To strengthen regional cooperation, a roundtable discussion will be held particularly for the Pan-Pearl Delta River region on air pollution prevention policies and treatment technology. In addition, a Green Chemical Forum will be held to strengthen the oil industry’s standardization management and explore a green road suitable for the sustainable development of Chinese petrochemical enterprises.
“The purpose of MIECF is to highlight Macau’s role as a platform for idea exchanges and industry networking in the environmental protection field, in order to facilitate more cooperation in the green industry,” said Ms Lau.
The Environmental Protection Bureau (DSPA)’s acting director, Vai Hoi Ieong, also stated that the event hasn’t just been a platform, but also a driving force, behind Macau’s environmental industry.
“It has also been very educational for our government officials and business leaders. Many of our government officials have become aware of environmental issues through this event, such as myself; they expanded their horizons in terms of environmental protection technologies,” he said.
The exhibition has grown significantly in its scale from 25 exhibitors in its first edition. Meanwhile, a total of 180 business protocols have been signed over the past seven editions of MIECF; during the fair this year, 22 more will be signed.
The budget for the event has stood at between MOP25-26 million for the past five years. Ms Lau said this was attributable to the organizer’s efforts in reducing marketing costs as well as reducing waste. “95 percent of the construction material used on the Macao Pavilion is recyclable. This is how we are going to educate our Macau people,” she said.