MACAO, April 6, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia./ -- The 2011 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Exhibition and Forum (2011 MIECF) concluded at 6 pm on April 2, having seen more than 8,800 visitors attend the three-day event, a 10 per cent growth on last year.
Among the visitors, more than 6,400 were trade visitors, and the Green Public Day held on April 2 drew about 2,400 visitors.
During the three-day event, 31 pacts or agreements were signed on-site, and the organisers, Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) and Macao Environmental Protection Bureau (DSPA), said the result showed the achievements of MIECF accumulated in the past few years and its strengthened role as a business platform for the 'green' industry.
Over the three days from March 31 to April 2, the organisers collected 625 projects related to environmental investment and agency for environmental products and arranged 574 business matching sessions for companies, a 38 per cent increase over last year's edition of MIECF. Among the 574 matching sessions, 167 were related to procurement of hotels.
Among the 63 signing parties of these protocols, about 60 per cent were from Macao. Other signing parties were from the Mainland, Hong Kong, Taiwan, the Netherlands, Portugal and Canada. Six protocols were related to eco-friendly vehicles.
This edition of MIECF attracted 324 exhibitors from 24 countries and regions, with some of them globally famously companies and institutions. The exhibition area totaled 16,500 square metres, 22.5 per cent more space over last year's 13,465 square metres.
As the awareness of environmental protection had increased in recent years, Ms Echo Chan, the Executive Director of IPIM, said MIECF had made progress in enhancing its scale and influence. The organisers were keen to promote the quality of the exhibitions and some exhibitors reflected that the quality of business matching projects was better and the negotiation processes were smoother.
In this edition of MIECF, the organisers had for the first time invited hotel operators in Macao to take part in the exhibition and procure. All six gaming operators had participated.
This year's MIECF exhibited all important products of the green industry, and electric vehicles and related products were the highlight of the exhibition. Some Mainland and overseas carmakers had exhibited their products, such as BMW, BYD and Zhuhai Jetco.
Compared with the last edition of MIECF, newly exhibited products this year included charging stations for electric vehicles and smart grid products, while the number of prime exhibitors increased from eight to 11.
The Deputy Director of DSPA, Ms Vong Man Hung, said a number of globally prominent speakers attended this year's MIECF, including Mr Joschka Fischer, Former Vice Chancellor and Former Foreign Minister of Germany, who delivered a keynote speech entitled 'Decoupling Growth and Emissions - a Roadmap to a Prosperous Decarbonized Future' at the opening ceremony, while Mr Klaus Toepfer, Former United Nations Undersecretary-General and Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, gave a keynote speech entitled 'The Low Carbon Economy - corner stone for a dynamic, sustainable development' on the second day of MIECF.
Ms Vong said that the number of forums had increased from five sessions to seven this year, with the participation of 70 speakers from 11 countries and regions. These top officials, experts and academics shared advanced ideas in green industries, technologies in cutting emissions and conserving energy, the tackling of climate change, which attained applause from different sectors of the community.
She said that their sharing in building low carbon cities and the relation between urban planning and environment were beneficial to the realisation of the vision of 'Building a low carbon Macao, creating green living together' and Macao's regional positioning as a 'World tourism and leisure centre'.
On the Green Public Day, the organisers had arranged some electric buses as shuttles to take visitors to the exhibition hall. Moreover, about 200 students and teachers were invited to tour the exhibition. The organisers said they hoped that the public could learn more about renewable energy, eco-friendly cars and other eco-friendly equipment and solutions. Their awareness in these technologies would be essential to the adaptation of the latest green technologies in the future in Macao.
The MIECF had been staged for four consecutive years and its quality had enhanced as it had become an important platform for green industries in South China and the Pan-Pearl River Delta region.
The next edition of MIECF will be staged on 29 to 31 March 2012.
Promoting exchange as MIECF's positive results are recognized by all sectors
The 2011 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum and Exhibition (2011MIECF) came to a successful conclusion on April 2. Business community, organizations as well as government representatives unanimously agree that this year's MIECF will be instrumental in promoting multi-lateral exchanges.
"We have actively participated in every year's MIECF. This year, apart from setting-up a booth to showcase Germany's current market situation for environmental products to Macao and even Greater China's participants, there are also several speakers from Germany present at the MIECF to share their experience with the audience regarding Germany and other countries' contribution to energy efficiency and emission reduction. We very much cherish this opportunity, in particular because, as in the past, there are many participants from Mainland China," said Mr. Wolfgang Ehmann, Executive Director of German Chamber of Industry and Commerce. He further pointed out that entrance into the Greater China market could not happen overnight and said that foreign enterprises should seek exposure opportunities to promote their brands and advantages. In fact, this year, there are more German exhibitors than in the past editions of the MIECF, and the German Zone is located in a prominent area of the venue.
According to Italy's representative, Mr. Roberto Francieri, MIECF gives an important opportunity for a German entity to expand abroad and to grab the opportunity to better understand the characteristics of the Chinese market. He gave the following example: "One of the environment issues that we are particularly concerned with at home is solid waste, however, I found that here, most of the discussions are focused on energy. In addition, there are representatives from different provinces and municipalities present at the MIECF, and this enables us to get a broader vision. Immediately after arriving in Macao, I would probably not be aware that everybody could be concerned about energy issues. However, from what I saw from different pavilions, many provinces and municipalities attach great importance to energy saving technology." He said that would be impossible for a person to know what is happening and keep posted on the current situation just from imagination, as the only effective way is to see for themselves.
With regards to his company's debut participation in the MIECF, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries 'sales manager Mr. Yoshitaka Keneko said that Mitsubishi is at present building the light rail in Macao, and therefore hopes to avail of this opportunity to promote Mutsuhibi Heavy Industries 's non-rail projects during the MIECF, such as power generation and renewable energy technologies. "We regard China as our most important market, and here we can meet a lot of people from Mainland China. Also, visitors from the Mainland could also acquire a better knowledge about our company's technology and products."
Ms. Tang Caihe, sales representative of Zhuhai h&m Lighting Co., Ltd., said that she considers MIECF an ideal promotion platform: "Compared with other exhibitions in the mainland, MIECF, apart from having the opportunity to contact potential domestic buyers, we can also meet buyers from the Macao, Hong Kong and even overseas buyers. Given that the event is held in a prestigious hotel, gives the customer an even better feeling." After exchange with different participants, she got a better understanding of her company's advantages and where its attraction lies, and said that from the experience of the 2011MIECF, her company could more appropriately adjust its marketing strategy to attract more trade opportunities.
In addition to the business community, several government representatives from different countries and regions also participated in the MIECF. Principal Assistant Secretary, Hong Kong Government Environment Bureau, Mr. Yik Pui In said that many companies interested to invest in Hong Kong approached their booth to understand the Hong Kong government's environmental policy and asked the names of the bureaus to contact. He disclosed that many visitors specifically visited their booth to learn about Hong Kong's achievements in environmental protection. Mr.Yik also believes that the MIECF is a valuable platform. "In addition to the promotion exercise, we have participated in many sessions of the forum, to learn about other countries' development in environmental protection and emission reduction. Such interactive exchange is very fruitful," he added.
For related enquiries, please contact:
MIECF Secretariat
Tel: +853-8798-8675
Fax: +853-2872-7123
Email miecf@ipim.gov.mo
Official MIECF website: www.macaomief.com
