The 29th MIF is being held from October 16 to 19 at the Cotai Expo, The Venetian Macao, coinciding with the Macao Franchise Expo 2024 (2024 MFE).
Advantages of “Exhibition + Platform”
The 29th MIF features a “Portuguese-Speaking Countries Market Zone,” gathering enterprises and government units from nine Portuguese-speaking countries. Around 150 booths cover industries such as food and beverages, finance, technology, healthcare, cross-border e-commerce, cultural and creative products, and professional services.
Isabel Pereira, representing a Portuguese agency, brought products from approximately 20 Portuguese companies to Macau to showcase, including wine, clothing, and handicrafts.
She stated that the international exhibition platform in Macau allows for the display of many high-quality Portuguese brands to access other high-end markets, and she is “confident” in Macau’s role as a service platform for trade cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries.
Isabel Pereira, representing a Portuguese agency, brought products from approximately 20 Portuguese companies to 29th Macao International Trade & Investment Fair.
Isabel Pereira, participating for the first time, expressed her hope to “achieve many miracles” during the four-day exhibition, such as connecting with more dealers or investors interested in introducing Portuguese-made products.
With Macau’s post-pandemic economic recovery, the Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute is actively promoting Macau as an exhibition destination to nearby Southeast Asian countries. The local exhibition industry has indicated that ASEAN business travelers are expected to become a significant growth point for international exhibitions in Macau.
Exhibitor Marco Artur Neves de Sous from Timor-Leste’s Mariscos Timor, Lda. sees Macau as a bridge to the ASEAN market. He believes that as part of the Portuguese-speaking community, with a shared language, they hope to use the MIF exhibition as a “first step” to enter the Macau market before gradually expanding to Portuguese-speaking countries in Africa and Southeast Asia.
“I believe Macau has great potential, resources, and capabilities to help drive cooperation between Timor-Leste, China, Portuguese-speaking countries, and ASEAN nations.” he said.
“I believe Macau has great potential, resources, and capabilities to help drive cooperation between Timor-Leste, China, Portuguese-speaking countries, and ASEAN nations.” Exhibitor Marco Artur Neves de Sous from Timor-Leste said.
1,300+ exhibitors from 16 countries and regions participated in the exhibition
10+ series of economic and trade promotion activities for Portuguese-speaking countries
300+ business negotiations
Building a Platform for Precise Connections
Eight themed matchmaking sessions were held during the two exhibitions. At the “Portuguese-Speaking Countries Product and Services Matching Session,” Rao Xia, manager of Guangdong Shengjia Supermarket Co., Ltd., a chain supermarket brand from Guangzhou, shared that this was her fifth time participating in the MIF.
As a buyer, she hopes to discover new products at the exhibition and believes that the business matchmaking sessions can facilitate more precise connections between companies. “We have a business negotiation with Portuguese olive oil and kombucha company from Macau, and the conversations have been positive. We will continue to stay in touch with the relevant companies for further understanding.”
In addition, several economic and trade promotion events related to Portuguese-speaking countries will be held during this year’s exhibition.
These include the “Fujian—Macao—Portuguese-Speaking Countries Economic and Trade Exchange Conference,” the “14th Industrial and Commercial Summit between Jiangsu-Macao-Portuguese Speaking Countries,” the “G100—The Most Promising Portuguese-Speaking Countries Wine and Spirits Awards 2024,” and the “Portuguese-Speaking Countries Coffee Bean Competition and Award Ceremony,” all of which aim to connect Sino-Portuguese business opportunities.
