In line with the “Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area” released earlier by the Central Government and by virtue of the role of Macao as a platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, as well as the global commitment to developing a green and sustainable world economy, a “Greenovation Zone” was launched this year, and the area of the “Greater Bay Area Eco-products and Solutions Pavilion” expanded at the “2019 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum & Exhibition” (2019MIECF), with the aim of helping participants to seize new opportunities for green development and encouraging them to follow relevant barometers. Some exhibitors acknowledged that the 2019MIECF lived up to their expectation, saying that they made the acquaintance of investors from the mainland thanks to a series of activities offered by the 2019MIECF.

At the signing ceremony held on the second day of the 2019MIECF, a total of 44 projects were signed by traders from Mainland China, Canada, Germany, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao, covering areas such as Nano-optics technology, waste recycling and transformation, waste reduction at source, sewage disposal solutions, campus optimization and photovoltaic system collaboration, greening rennovation, purchase of Congjiang green rice, and co-operation on organic, environmentally-friendly and renewable feed and fertilizer. At the Green Matching area, more than 210 business matching sessions were held.

Covering a total area of about 16,900 square metres, the 2019MIECF was joined by over 500 exhibitors from Mainland China, “Belt and Road” countries, European countries and Portuguese-speaking countries. At the “Greater Bay Area Eco-products and Solutions Pavilion”, Mr Hu, an exhibitor from Zhuhai, Guangdong province, said that this year was the fourth time for his company to participate in the MIECF to promote its energy-efficient and zero-pollution solar-powered BBQ grills. The aim of participating in the MIECF, as he pointed out, is to promote his company’s new products and establish more contacts with other companies for the purpose of prospective future co-operation. Thanks to this year’s MIECF, he has received orders for his products. He also expected to participate in the MIECF next year if possible.

A “Greenovation Zone” was launched at this year’s MIECF to offer displays and exchanges of green innovations in science and technology and youth entrepreneurship projects, with the aim of promoting the application of innovative technologies for environmental protection, as well as relevant exchanges of ideas. According to Ms Tam, manager of a local fashion company, she has been committed to the manufacturing of “moral clothes” for three years. By “moral clothes”, she means that all materials provided by her suppliers do no harm to human bodies because they have passed all relevant tests, and that her factory is equipped with support services to guarantee workers’ well-being. The package of ready-made clothes produced by her company has been changed from plastics into a material made of corn starch, she said. Due to the lack of popularity of such a change on the market, her company established another line of business this year, offering green and plastic-free solutions. Thanks to the 2019MIECF, she made acquaintance of people from the hotel industry who showed interest in her products. The exhibition helped lay a solid foundation for future co-operation.

Another exhibitor is a joint venture of Hong Kong and Macao founded in 2017, which specialises in charging devices and technologies applied in electric vehicles. Mr Kwan, founder of the company, said that the charging devices and platforms developed in Macao had received investment from a large corporation based in South Korea and would be installed in its parking lots in the future. The platforms have also been tested in Hong Kong for half a year and are running well at present, providing charging services for users of electric vehicles and guiding them to go shopping in different areas of Hong Kong by broadcasting advertisements on the screen of the platforms. Participation in this year’s MIECF, Mr Kwan noted, gave him the opportunity to explore the mainland’s market, reach out to potential customers in Macao and make the acquaintance of investors from the mainland. Also, he expressed his expectation that the devices of his company could be installed in large local resorts and houses in the future so as to contribute to Macao’s environmental protection.

Mr Lee, a local exhibitor and president of a relevant association, said that a total of 19 member entities were organised to participate in this year’s MIECF. Thanks to the professionalism of the MIECF, an event joined and visited by professionals, as well as business matching services provided by the government, exhibitors would find it easy to identify targets for co-operation. Exhibitors brought together by this association responded actively to the 2019MIECF, some of whom said constructive outcomes were achieved.

An organic food exhibitor from Brazil at the “Portuguese-speaking Countries Pavilions” said that he participated in the MIECF for the first time to promote the products and cold drying technology of his company. He considered the MIECF as a bridge to connect his company to markets in Hong Kong and the mainland. He saw the importance of participating in the event for his company in expanding the market. He also expected to look for agents for his products with the help of the MIECF. With contact established through this year’s MIECF, he is looking forward to greater outcomes in the future. At the “Green Building Area”, Mr Leong, a timber agent from Hong Kong, said he participated in the MIECF for the first time to promote low-pollution timber and glue. During the MIECF, he approached some large companies with which he expected to establish co-operative ties in the future.

The “Green Finance Networking” took place on the second day of the 2019MIECF. Mr Mui, Chairman of a financial company based in Hong Kong, said that green finance has become a hot social topic recently, which is vital to financial business. Compared with neighbouring regions, Hong Kong and Macao enjoy greater space of development in this respect. Thanks to the 2019MIECF, he made the acquaintance of people from different backgrounds, especially those from Macao’s enterprises and organisations engaged in environmental protection, and came to a more detailed understanding of how local industries actually work. He said the MIECF provided opportunities for future co-operation. Thanks to the business matching service at the MIEFC, his company also established contact with a financial liabilities institution in Macao. The two parties pledged to work together to promote their development in the financial sector.

In order to promote the development of the local environmental protection industry and co-operation in the sector, a “seminar on promoting Macao’s green industries” was held this afternoon during the 2019MIECF, which was attended by representatives from the local environmental protection industry and the hotel industry. At the seminar, representatives from the environmental industry explained projects and demonstrated technologies relevant to environmental protection to those from the hotel industry. Both parties exchanged ideas during the exchange and networking session. An attendee from the environmental protection sector said that the special activity helped the local environmental protection industry get closer to the hotel industry by providing both parties with opportunities for exchange and interaction, adding that the event played a significant role in promoting the development of Macao’s green industry and strengthening the promotion of local green products and services. An administrative director for electromechanical equipment operation from a hotel said that the seminar could help hotels and other enterprises to understand the latest development of the environmental protection industry, as well as more local SMEs engaged in environmental protection.

Tomorrow (March 30) is the last day of the 2019MIECF for traders to seize green opportunities and explore business opportunities in the area of environmental protection. In order to facilitate online exchange and communication among traders inside and outside the venue, the 2019MIECF provides free a WIFI connection. Choose “2019MIECF” from the list of available networks to enjoy free WIFI service. Meanwhile, traders can visit the Online Business Matching Service Platform (http://bm.ipim.gov.mo/) of the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) to search for co-operation projects and identify targets for business matching.

Multiple co-operation projects are signed at the signing ceremony on the second day of the 2019MIECF

The effective role of the MIECF is acknowledged by exhibitors

A “Greenovation Zone” debuts at the 2019MIECF