To reinforce commercial and trade co-operation and exchange among enterprises from Macao and Chongqing, and to introduce Chongqing businesspeople to the investment environment of Macao, Guangdong-Macao Intensive Co-operation Zone in Hengqin and Portuguese-speaking countries (PSCs), as well as highlighting Macao’s advantages in hosting events, the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) joined hands with the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Commerce to hold the “Chongqing-Macao-PSCs MICE, Commerce, Trade and Investment Presentation Session” today (3 December), which attracted participation of 70 enterprise representatives and 68 business matching sessions were arranged, covering supermarket business, wine trade, product retail and wholesale, hotel, food and beverage, e-commerce, cultural tourism, convention and exhibition.
Enhancing Macao’s role as the Sino-Lusophone platform through co-operation with Chongqing
IPIM Executive Director Agostinho Vong remarked in his speech that Macao and Chongqing can work together to create a synergistic effect considering that both regions are situated in areas of the country with the greatest economic vitality and a high level of market openness. In addition to this, the modern service sector and manufacturing sector, especially finance, cultural tourism, information and big health, will the focuses of Chongqing’s development in the future. Therefore, the two regions will have more possibilities of collaborations that generate stronger industrial synergy. This also includes sharing Macao’s experience in developing cultural tourism and MICE industries with mainland cities, such as Chongqing, and jointly exploring co-operation opportunities through providing bilingual professional services for the economic and trade co-operation between the mainland and PSCs on aspects such as translation, finance and legal services.
The release of the Master Plan of the Development of the Guangdong-Macao Intensive Co-operation Zone in Hengqin, which integrates Macao’s unique advantages and Hengqin’s space and resources, makes it possible for Chongqin’s top-tier industries like digital information and biomedicine to conduct different sections of the production in Macao and the Intensive Co-operation Zone, giving better play to Macao’s connection with the international market and the competitive cost and resources of the Intensive Co-operation Zone.
Song Gang, Deputy Director of the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Commerce, stated in his speech that Chongqing will strengthen the connection with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area through utilising Macao’s role as the Commercial and Trade Co-operation Service Platform between China and PSCs. They will also promote the co-operation between Macao and Chongqing on aspects like infrastructure construction, finance, traditional Chinese medicine, cultural tourism and commerce and trade by seizing the opportunities from the construction of Chongqing as an international consumption centre and the launch of pilot programmes to further open up the service sector in Chongqing. With such initiatives, it is hoped to achieve market expansion in both regions, collaborative construction of platforms and sharing of benefits from opening up the market, and to elevate co-operation between Macao and Chongqing to new levels.
Helping Chongqing and Macao enterprises to expand market
During the presentation session, IPIM, the Economic Development Bureau of the Guangdong-Macao Intensive Co-operation Zone in Hengqin, and investor representatives from China and PSCs introduced participants to the investment environment and supporting services in Macao, the Intensive Co-operation Zone and PSCs. IPIM also arranged for participating Macao enterprises to attend business matching sessions with local enterprises and put their products on display and offer free taste samples in a bid to help the enterprises fully showcase their brand and expand their market. Consultation services were also offered via video calls made on site to provide instant answers to enquiries from enterprises with an interest in running business in Macao. Enterprises with an interest in investing in the Intensive Co-operation Zone could also enquire about relevant business information.
Macao and Chongqing enterprises participating in the presentation session were happy with the overall arrangements, believing that the event helps them gain a further understanding of the business environment of PSCs, the Intensive Co-operation Zone and Macao, and is conducive to enhancing interaction and exchange among enterprises from the two regions and facilitating business and trade co-operation.
