MIF: Macau seals US$4 bn Zhuhai deal

It was straight to business from the get-go at this year's Macao International Trade & Investment Fair (MIF), with Macau and Zhuhai signing a US$4 billion deal to build a Japanese theme park in Zhuhai.

Destination Macau has learned that Japanese movie production company Micott & Basara Inc. will open a theme park in Zhuhai.

Charles Choy, general manager of the Vaian Group (International) Co. Ltd., which exports organic food from China to Japan and other parts of the world, played a role in making the Japanese theme park deal Zhuhai happen.

"The concept of a theme park is different from that of the U.S., so we're talking more about a marque with a shopping mall; three- or 4-D theaters and a ferris wheel," Choy says. "I can't tell you where it's going to be just yet in Zhuhai, but not in Hengqin for sure."

In related MIF news, the Australians, Americans, Canadians, Germans and British were out in full force at the show. The Australian Trade Commissioner told us we could expect the Australian Chamber of Commerce to open a branch in Macau by the end of this year as the Australian population continues to expand, particularly with the development of the City of Dreams on Cotai.

However, in spite of the deals made and increase in exhibitors, the number of visitors is down from previous fairs. MIF organizers estimate that 51,600 visitors attended this year's MIF, compared to last year's 60,000 visitors when it was held at the Macau Tower, a more convenient venue for nearby offices. In 2005, an estimated 80,000 people attended the show.
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