Forum aims to nurture sustainable exchanges

An annual event with an aim to nurture environmental business, technology and information exchanges between the Pan-Pearl River Delta region in South China and international markets will open at the end of this month.

The 2016 Macao International Environmental Cooperation Forum and Exhibition, also known as MIECF, will be held at the Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel from March 31 to April 2. This year, the event will be themed "Green economy - opportunities for waste management", providing a multilateral platform for exchanges on green commerce, technology and information among environmental industries.

Begun in 2008, this year is the ninth edition of the MIECF. It is a significant annual event in the environmental industry, constantly enhancing its quality and standards and promoting exchanges and cooperation.

This year, two major annual components, the Green Forum and the Green Showcase, as well as activities such as the Green Business Cooperation Day, networking activities, public day, business matching, seminars and presentations will be staged.

All aim to strengthen commercial and technological exchanges on advances in environmental protection between international and Pan-Pearl River Delta region entities, to promote cooperation and developments in international environmental protection, to publicize environmental protection concepts and to create business opportunities in the environmental industry.

During the Green Forum, Walter Stahel, a pioneer in circular economy and inventor of the "Cradle to Cradle" and "Performance Economy" concepts, as well as founder and director of the Product-Life Institute, will deliver a keynote speech.

The annual event is hosted by the government of the Macao Special Administrative Region, with the Environmental Protection Bureau and the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute as host coordinators.

MIECF has earned increasing popularity among industry professionals and was recognized by the UFI, or the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, as a "UFI Approved Event" since 2011, for innovative opportunities in the environmental industry and for publicizing environmental concepts.

The event enjoys the support of the National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Science and Technology and Ministry of Environmental Protection as special supporting organizations.

It is also co-organized by the provincial and regional governments of the Pan-Pearl River Delta, namely Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan and Hong Kong.

huangmengxin@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 03/15/2016 page14)