The Macao International Trade and Investment Fair (MIF) opened on Saturday, attracting some 150commerce and trade delegations from 47 countries and regions.

The fair, sponsored by the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (MTIPI), is a venue for over 30 seminars, conferences and product promotion programs.

It features 336 exhibition booths and pre-arranged 380 "business matchings" for the participants to engage in business talks.

Lee Peng Hong, president of the MTIPI, said while addressing the opening ceremony that the MIF boasts the largest comprehensive commerce and trade exhibition in the special administrative region.

This year's MIF version has enhanced services for the small and medium enterprises by "actively optimizing" buyers and business matching activities, Lee said.

The four-day annual event has become an important trade platform for enterprises from the Chinese mainland, European and Portuguese-speaking countries, he added.

Those attended the opening ceremony included Edmund Ho Hau Wah, chief executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR),Gao Yan, deputy director of the Central People's Government's Liaison Office in the MSAR, Wan Yongxiang, commissioner of the Foreign Ministry in the MSAR, and Wei Jianguo, deputy Minister of Commerce.

Editor: Yan