The Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, is scheduled to leave for Hefei, Anhui, tomorrow for the opening of Expo Central China 2009 and Forum on Thousands Investors Going West.

The exposition is co-organised by the Ministry of Commerce, State Administration of Taxation, State Administration for Industry and Commerce, State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, State Administration of Tourism, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, China Federation of Industrial Economics, and the provincial governments of Shanxi, Henan, Hubei, Anhui, Hunan and Jiangxi.

The objectives of the event are to accelerate the restructuring and upgrading of the industries in Central China and to promote trade and development.

The Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute has organised about 60 Macao businesspeople to attend the event and promote their products and brands to their counterparts in Central China.

To boost trade between provinces in Central China, Hong Kong and Macao, the organisers will set up special exposition zones for the businesspeople from Hong Kong and Macao.

Members of Mr Ho’s delegation include the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Francis Tam Pak Yuen, the Chief-of-Office of the Office of the Chief Executive, Mr Ho Veng On, and the President of Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, Mr Lee Peng Hong.

Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms Florinda Chan, will be Acting Chief Executive until Mr Ho returns on Sunday.