Chinese Special Administrative Region Macao is known for its mix of cultural influences, large casinos and shopping malls on the Cotai Strip, as well as 338m Macao Tower which is also a beacon for MICE business, housing a convention and entertainment centre. The islands boast many other world-class resources for organising exhibitions and conferences and report a busy first half of 2024 for MICE activities.
One highlight of the year to date was the two-day 2024 UFI Asia Pacific Conference held in Macao 7-8 March. The event saw a senior management team of the global association of
the exhibition industry, UFI hold a successful working exchange with representatives from Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) and the Macao MICE industry. UFI MD/CEO Kai Hattendorf, said the conference had achieved ideal results, with two professional training schemes to be launched in the city, laying the foundation for UFI to further establish Macao as a global training hub.
The two-day UFI Conference brought together 300 MICE industry leaders from mainland China, Europe and ASEAN countries, as well as Hong Kong and Macao, to discuss hot topics. Delegates were able to visit local communities and get a feel for some of the incentive activities of offer. Macao’s MICE Bidding and Support Team is, meanwhile, striving to secure more international MICE events for the city and conferences and exhibitions held in Macao in the first half of 2024 included the 2024 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum and Exhibition (MIECF) at the end of March and the 15th International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum to come in the second half of June.
The 2024MIECF is a UFI-accredited exhibition, and was hosted by the government. Organisers delivered over 420 business matching sessions over the three-day event which concluded on 30 March. The event also saw agreements signed on 40 projects, with nine enterprises opening businesses in Macao during the exhibition. These businesses cover sectors including health, high- tech, cultural tourism, and MICE. Moreover, the 2024MIECF, which was held in Cotai Expo, The Venetian Macao under the theme ‘Reaching the Dual Carbon Goals through Green Transformation’, also embraced four separate multi-venue events, attracting around 120 participants. Trade visitors from Brazil, Cape Verde, Portugal and other countries visited Hengqin and Zhuhai, utilising the Guangdong 144-hour visa-free policy for foreign tour groups from Hong Kong or Macao SAR.
In 2023 398 business matching sessions took place during the exhibition period, which was up 13% on the 2019 pre-Covid figures, according to IPIM. This year, MIECF again hosted themed business matching sessions with Green Technology, Carbon Trading and environmental issues figuring high on the agenda.
Exhibition area up 20% and 50% more international exhibitors
Entering its 16th year, MIECF increased its exhibition area by 20% for 2024, up from last year’s 12,000sqm, and the main pavilions hosted over 560 exhibition booths. There were more than 400 exhibitors, with the foreign contingent growing by 55%. International buyers from over 30 countries and regions participated in procurement meetings in Macao.
New products were unveiled in five exhibition areas of MIECF’s green business platform. The areas were related to environmental protection, including carbon neutrality technology, energy management, water resource management, green transport, eco-city integration, and green buildings. A ‘Green Smart Industries Exhibition Area’, established for the first time, helped enterprises connect with green technologies and supply chains. In addition, many exhibitors launched their products at MIECF, further proving its role as the green platform.
Organised around the show was a MICE Environment Experience Tour, guided community tours and other supplementary activities enabling delegates to get to know Macao better.
Visitors visited communities and local shops and there were technical visits to the Cotai Ecological Reserve and recycling facilities for electronic and electrical devices.
The exhibition also opened out to local citizens with a Green Public Day.
The Forum also probed topics about how finance, tourism, high technology, exhibition and trade industries, namely the “1+4” key industries, incorporate ESG (environmental, social and governance) in their development.
The 2024MIECF was supported by China’s National Development and Reform Commission, its Ministry of Science and Technology and Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, as well as the Ministry of Ecology and Environment. It was co-organised by the governments of the Pan-Pearl River Delta Region (PPRD) and co-ordinated by IPIM and the Environmental Protection Bureau (DSPA).
The exhibition was an opportunity for Macao to outline is Long-term Decarbonidation Strategy the opening ceremony of the 2024MIECF was officiated by Ho Iat Seng, chief executive of Macao Special Administrative Region and other dignitaries.
This year’s MIECF has also launched the activity of version 2.0 of ‘Macao Carbon Inclusion’ and established an innovative mode for reducing carbon emissions. Visitors were recommended to complete the missions through the Macao Carbon Inclusion WeChat mini programme.
The Meetings Show Asia Pacific
IPIM and the Economic Development Bureau of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Co-operation Zone in Hengqin (the ‘Co-operation Zone’), also organised 14 Macao-Hengqin companies to participate in the new exhibition for the MICE industry in Singapore in April, where 500 business matching sessions took place at The Meetings Show Asia Pacific.
IPIM has also, in recent years, aligned with the SAR government’s “1+4” development strategy while fostering the construction of the China-PSC (Portuguse-speaking Countries) Platform. IPIM invites companies from PSCs to participate in MICE events hosted/coordinated by IPIM and in 2023 the number of exhibitors from PSCs increased by 15% compared to 2019. Companies from these countries are increasingly leveraging the role of Macao as a China-PSC Platform to open doors to business opportunities, not only in mainland China but also internationally.
IPIM has also launched the ‘Economic and Trade Co-operation and Human Resources Portal between China and Portuguese-Speaking Countries’ and ‘Invest Here’, provided the ‘China-PSC Business Compass’ service, the ‘Investor’s One- Stop Service’, and set up the Pavilion of China-Portuguese-speaking Countries Commercial and Trade Service Platform.
IPIM also collaborates with the Economic Development Bureau of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Co-operation Zone in Hengqin to organise Multi-venue Events in Macao and Hengqin, involving merchants from PSCs.
The 23 April Conference of Entrepreneurs was attended by nearly 700 leaders and representatives from governments, trade promotion agencies, chambers of commerce, and enterprises from mainland China, nine Portuguese-speaking countries, Hong Kong, and Macao.
200 conventions in four months
More than 200 conventions and exhibitions were successfully held in Macao from January to April 2024 and, from May to June, Macao will host MICE events involving “1+4” industries, such as tourism and leisure, modern financial services and high technology, as well as infrastructure. According to the One-stop Service for MICE Bidding and Support provided by IPIM, 26 conventions and exhibitions will be held in this period and they are expected to attract over 14,000 visitors to the city.
IPIM works to maximise the efficacy of these events and has arranged various signing ceremonies to promote business and assist investors to set up companies in Macao.
IPIM set up a 225sqm exhibition zone at the 12th Macao International Travel (Industry) Expo (MITE) held 26-28 April, an event that brings together many domestic and overseas tourism operators and businessmen to Macao. Twenty Macao enterprises exhibited.
This article is taken from EW Issue 3, to get the digital magazine bi-monthly to your inbox, subscribe here: https://www.exhibitionworld.co.uk/subscribe
