MIF | Protocol is ‘win, win, win situation’

On the eve of the Macau International Trade and Investment Fair (MIF) opening, the Macau Chamber of Commerce signed a protocol with the Portuguese Agency for Foreign Trade & Investment (AICEP) to “take advantage of development opportunities.”
On the sidelines of the protocol signing, AICEP’s chairman Miguel Frasquilho said that the Portuguese economy must become more driven towards external markets.
“A small economy like Portugal’s must turn outwards in order to profit from the business opportunities otherwise it won’t grow,” he said, adding that China and Macau are “Portuguese bets.”
The protocol with the Macau Chamber of Commerce constitutes a “win, win, win situation,” added AICEP’s chairman. “Everybody will benefit because Macau can establish itself as a platform to bridge China and lusophone countries. Portugal can be a special partner since it is strategically located and it belongs to the European Union and to CPLP (the Community of Portuguese Language Speaking Countries).
Also yesterday, IPIM hosted its 20th anniversary dinner at the Fisherman’s Wharf Convention and Exhibition Centre Auditorium. During the event, IPIM’s president Jackson Chang spoke to MIF participants that attended the banquet, stressing that over 2,800 business-
matching sessions are scheduled to take place during the fair.
“IPIM is organizing several activities to promote economic ties between mainland China and Portuguese-
speaking countries, both online and offline. These activities include the establishment of a digital platform that can provide information about bilingual talents  – Chinese and Portuguese – and data about markets’ evolution in the lusophone countries. Besides that, this years’ MIF includes a lusophone pavilion with more than 1,500 square meters,” Mr Jackson said, specifically addressing MIF participants from Portuguese-speaking countries. MDT/Lusa