A Macao business delegation talked with officials of the Xiamen convention and exhibition bureau about promoting Macao at the China International Fair for Investment & Trade (CIFIT) - a major trade fair the bureau has been running for years.

Head of Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute Li Zigui led the delegation.

Li confirmed that the institute will hold a week-long Dynamic Macao campaign at the fair's 2016 session, which is scheduled to open from Sept 8 to 11 in Xiamen, Fujian province. A 6,000 square meter area is planned under the campaign to showcase Macao's competitive products and six largest leisure tourism enterprises.

The institute also agreed on a "Special Guest" promotional event and an Invest in Macao exhibition.

A dozen events have been planned to take place at the fair, including a promotional event for Macao's tourism industry, a "conversazione" for businessmen from Fujian province, Macao and Portuguese-speaking regions, and a matchmaking event for young entrepreneurs from Fujian and Macao.

Macao Convention & Exhibition Association's vice president He Haiming was part of the delegation. He said that Macao is experiencing an industrial transformation towards diversity, in which the convention and exhibition industry is expected to play an important role as a driving force.

Macao's role in China's Belt and Road Initiative is important as a gateway to southern China and it is well connected among Fujian businessmen, especially those from Xiamen.

Wang Qiongwen, the bureau chief, told the delegation that the fair will focus on the Belt and Road Initiative to raise connectivity worldwide, and called on Macao to further cooperate with Fujian and fully connect to the world by gaining exposure at the fair.

Wang also expressed hope for the Dynamic Macao event to become a fixed item on the annual fair's event calendar.

Edited by Owen Fishwick