The 21st Macao International Trade and Investment Fair (MIF) closed its doors on Saturday with a positive evaluation from the organizers.
Despite the disruption caused by Typhoon Haima that led to the suspension of all activities that had been scheduled for Friday, the organizers still proclaimed that the 2016 edition of MIF was a success, even after already being shortened by one day compared to previous years.
According to the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), over 380 business negotiation sessions were held in the Business Matching Area, of which 110 were made through the Online Business Matching Service Platform, resulting in contracts being signed for over 50 projects, figures that pleased the organizers.
IPIM’s Executive Director Irene Lau told TDM: “Contacts and business matching have grown about 50 percent. The reason behind this is that we have done things in a different system. The matching was done online before [businessmen arrived at the event]; they arrange their timetable. We informed them in advance that the second day might have the risk of not having the show, so everybody did [their networking] on the first day.” Lau also informed us that it was impossible to extend the event into Sunday so that it could run for its originally scheduled three full days.
Lau explained further that there were complications “at the backstage, there are a lot of arrangements, as you know, logistics, transportation, hotel arrangement, guests’ timetables. So it’s not as simple as what everybody thought, that we could just extend it one more day. No!”
According to Lau, the number of visitors on the first day increased 2 percent from last year’s event, a surge that also occurred on the last day of the MIF, which turned out to be the only day that was open to the public. On this day a number of families joined the event and were particularly attracted to the gourmet treats section organized in the SME Exhibition area. “If not for the typhoon, MIF could have set a new visitor record,” Lau claimed.
Joining the MIF for the seventh consecutive year, on this occasion Beijing was invited to be the Partner City.
To this end, a “Beijing Time-Honored Brands Pavilion” was set up showcasing the diverse possibilities of collaboration between Macau and the Chinese capital city as well as with Portuguese-speaking countries.
The Pavilion was divided into several exhibition areas, including the Service and Trade Exhibition Area, Traditional Chinese Medicine Exhibition Area, Beijing International Horticultural Exposition 2019 Exhibition Area, Beijing Olympic Winter Games in 2022 Exhibition Area and Pinggu District Exhibition Area, all featuring investment and cooperation opportunities as well as interactive experiences, such as a pharmaceutical demonstrations, health consultations, ice sports demonstrations and new specialty tastings.
Portugal was the partner country of the event, which featured a large display of opportunities for investment and cooperation with the country throughout many economic sectors. The tourism, technology and food sectors were particularly highlighted.
The 22nd edition of MIF will be held next year between October 19 and 21. RM
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