The “3rd Training Course for Talents of Macao´s Convention and Exhibition Industry”, jointly organised by Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) and the Department of Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao Affairs of the Ministry of Commerce of the People´s Republic of China, was satisfactory held in Hangzhou, from 12 to 15 July. The said course, which combined theory with practice, will help to enhance the professional level of Macao´s MICE industry and strengthen exchanges and co-operation between professionals of Macao´s convention and exhibition industry and their counterparts in Mainland China.

　　Following the first and second training courses, which were held in July 2015 and August 2016, in Shanghai and Dalian, respectively, Irene Va Kuan Lau, Executive Director of IPIM led a 20-member delegation, comprised of representatives of Macao´s MICE industry, to Hangzhou in July this year, to participate in the 3rd Training Course. The ceremony to mark the commencement of the course took place on 13 July, during which, Chen Zhituan, Deputy Director General of Department of Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao Affairs of the Ministry of Commerce of the People´s Republic of China, and Wu Guiying, Chairman of the Hangzhou Branch of CCPIT, delivered their respective welcome speeches. In her speech at the networking lunch, to mark the commencement of the Training Course, Executive Director Irene Va Kuan Lau briefed the participants of the training course, and representatives of the convention and exhibition industry of Mainland China, on the current development of Macao´s convention and exhibition industry. She pointed out that the Training Course, which is especially designed for professionals of the convention and exhibition industry, is held jointly with the related government agencies and convention and exhibition industry of Mainland China, through the regional co-operation mechanism, and stressed that the said course will help to enhance the strengths and the professional level of the MICE industry in different areas, improve professionalism and competitiveness and also to provide upward mobility for professionals of the MICE industry, so as to cultivate a larger number of middle-level managers and professionals for the said industry, while promoting exchanges and collaboration between professionals of Macao´s MICE industry with their counterparts in different provinces and regions in Mainland China.

　　Ms. Vong, who has worked for 12 years in the public relations area of the convention and exhibition industry, said that she “learnt by doing”. She believes that the training course was rich in content and practical and can improve her professionalism. While  Mr. Liu, who is engaged in the planning of convention and exhibition activities, stated that, by participating in this training course, he has obtained a preliminary understanding of the MICE-related environment in Hangzhou, and said that he got acquainted with the local MICE professionals, which will benefit exchanges between professionals of Macao´s MICE industry and their counterparts in that locality. During the 4-day training course, thanks to the support of IPIM´s Training Centre and the Hangzhou Branch of CCPIT, the participants had the opportunity to make study visits to Hangzhou International Convention and Exhibition Centre and the headquarters of Alibaba Holdings Limited.