Beijing, Macao focus on tourism, trade services

Emerging enterprises in cultural and creative industries and trade services show promising potential for cooperation between Beijing and Macao.

This is the message from the Second Beijing Macao Cooperation and Exchange Symposium, which started on Wednesday in the special administrative region. Companies from Beijing and Macao signed 11 contracts worth 4.14 billion yuan ($674.8 million) at the event this year, an increase of more than 60 percent over last year's event.

Beijing Mayor Wang Anshun (second from left, back row) and Chui Sai-on (second from right, back row), chief executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region, witness the signing of a slew of agreements between the two cities at the Second Beijing Macao Cooperation and Exchange Symposium on Wednesday. Parker Zheng / CHINA DAILY

Macao Chief Executive Chui Sai-on said at the opening ceremony that Macao will build itself into a world tourism and leisure center, as well as a regional business and trade service platform for Portuguese-speaking countries.

Beijing Mayor Wang Anshun said the capital city "would like to use the platform of Macao and extend its influences to Portuguese-speaking countries and regions".

He added that Beijing will promote economic and trade cooperation with Macao.

Wang said that both sides will broaden exchanges in such sectors as service trade, the cultural and creative industry, technology and tourism.

Lian Zhaotong, a professor of business information systems at the University of Macao, said that by working with Beijing, Macao can bring its products, together with those from Portuguese-speaking countries, to Beijing and then to other Chinese cities.

He expressed hope that Beijing can take full advantage of Macao as a gateway to overseas markets, given Macao's flexible policies, international connections and financing channels.

Beijing is a major economic partner of Macao. In 2012, their trade reached $350 million, up 22 percent from 2011.

From January to May, Macao registered 11.8 million tourist arrivals, a 3 percent year-on-year increase. Total revenue of the Macao government increased by 20 percent to the equivalent of 47 billion yuan.

Jackson Chang, president of the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, said service industries such as conventions and exhibitions, driven by the gaming and tourism industries, have seen rapid development in recent years.

In 2012, 28 million tourists visited Macao, and this year the number is expected to reach 30 million. The steady flow of tourists has helped expand the retail and conferences and exhibitions industries in Macao.

In the past two years, more than 1,000 conferences and exhibitions have taken place in Macao, covering areas such as environmental protection, hotel supplies and franchising.

The Beijing Macao Cooperation and Exchange Symposium began in 2012 in Beijing, during which 16 contracts worth 2.57 billion yuan were signed between 32 enterprises from both sides. Among them, 13 projects focus on cultural and creative industries.

Exhibition sector booms

The convention and exhibition sector has become a new economic growth area for Macao.

"We attach great importance to the development of the convention and exhibition industry," Sou Tim-peng, director of economic services of the Macao Special Administrative Region, said on Wednesday. He noted that some business fairs have taken root in Macao, taking advantage of the city's status as a commercial service platform while providing advantages for the internationalization of Macao's convention and exhibition business.

To give but two examples, the Fourth International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum, held by China International Contractors Association under the Ministry of Commerce, took place in June, while the Second Beijing Macao Cooperation and Exchange Symposium started on Wednesday.

"Cultivating and introducing high-end events to Macao has ensured the convention activities of Macao become more professional and international," Sou said.

According to Macao Convention and Exhibition Association, revenues generated by the industry exceeded 600 million yuan ($97.8 million) in 2012.

BAO CHANG