This year the Macao International Trade & Investment Fair celebrates its ninth anniversary, and going to be an exciting one! The Organisers are making every effort to diversify the elements of the Fair so as to take advantage of Macao as a commerce & trade platform servicing potential investors from all over the world with unparalleled professional services and quality.

The Closer Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) gives an increasing flow rate of services and product trades between the Macao SAR and Mainland China markets. This new arrangement allows local businesses to have a short-cut access to the mainland market, thus, strengthens Macao’s many attractions for worldwide investors.

With the uniqueness of history and cultural background, Macao sets on the new trend of CEPA to develop into an economic platforms connecting Mainland China with Portuguese-speaking countries; Western Guangdong with the global market; and the greater China region with overseas Chinese traders. Aside from our traditional exhibitions and tradeshows at the Macau Tower, we will also include a special theme area for “China - Portuguese-speaking Countries Product Fair”, as a subsequent event of the “Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao)” held successfully last year, to further increase Macao’s function as the business and trade service platform for China and Portuguese-speaking Countries. In addition, business briefings, product presentations and business matching sessions will be also held concurrently with the “China - Portuguese-speaking Countries Product Fair”.

The 9th MIF will attract worldwide business investors, entrepreneurs and representatives from trade organizations, particularly from Mainland China and Portuguese-speaking countries. The Fair features a compound of product promotions, networking, information exchange and investment environment presentations. Once again, Macao will come up into the ultimate focus for worldwide entrepreneurs and investors.

Macao's Attractions to Worldwide Investors

• Providing an increasingly high standard of services
• Promising and dynamic future as Macao plays host to a series of international events such as the 2005 Pacific Asia Travel Association Annual Meeting, the 4^th East Asian Games and the 2005 Junior Chamber International Asia Pacific Conference

MIF Statistics & Past Record

• Last year the 8^th MIF attracted corporate delegates from 24 countries and regions
• Compared with 2002, the participation rate increased by 105%. It provided exceptional business opportunities for a total number of 270 exhibitors (21% of whom were from overseas; 19% from China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan; and 60% local)
• There were 278 booths, plus 39 forums, seminars, briefings and presentations, 174 business meetings during business matching sessions

Enlarged Channels for Promotion and More Efficacious Organization

Further from inviting businessmen to the Fair, the Organisers will also extend their invitations to merchandisers and entrepreneurs from associations and chambers of commerce, consulates in Hong Kong, worldwide sale agents, and professional media etc. In particular for the “China - Portuguese-speaking Countries Product Fair”, exhibitors from the countries like Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal and East Timor, as well as representatives of provincial government bodies, enterprises and business organizations from Mainland China will be invited.