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Creating a strong environment for MICE businesss in Macao
M acao Special Administrative Region of the People ’ s Republic of China 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 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 , hightech , 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
“ More than 200 conventions and exhibitions were successfully held in Macao from January to April 2024 ”
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
32 Issue 3 2024 www . exhibitionworld . co . uk