Macao event attracts largest-ever crowd, champions new era for sector as agreements top $6.7 billion
Ministerial-level leaders responsible for infrastructure tour the IIICF exhibition in Macao. Guests from around the world noted the increase in quantity and quality at this year’s expanded expo. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)
On June 2, the curtain fell on the two-day 14th International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum (IIICF) held in the Macao Special Administrative Region.
The forum was aimed at bringing the infrastructure industry into a new era through digital, green, and sustainable growth and win-win international collaboration.
Guests, experts and organizers said that the forum yielded fruitful results and made breakthroughs in many aspects.
The event attracted more than 3,000 industry insiders from finance institutions, international organizations, leading enterprises, government agencies, and academia from more than 60 countries and regions. They included about 40 ministerial-level guests.
The forum — themed ”Going Green, Digital and Smart, Financing Win-Win Cooperation” — was jointly organized by the China International Contractors Association (CHINCA) and the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM).
Forum topics included new energy collaboration and green transformation, ESG investment and management practice, smart transport, and regional infrastructure connectivity. China’s collaboration with Latin America and the Caribbean and with Portuguese-speaking countries also featured.
CHINCA Chairman Fang Qiuchen praised the professionalism of this year’s IIICF exhibition, noting that it had comprehensively enhanced the global reputation of Chinese construction.
The 14th International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum (IIICF) exhibition in Macao ran from May 31 to June 2. Over 3,000 visitors are from about 60 countries and regions. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)
Fang said that this year’s event attracted more than 60 leading enterprises from the global infrastructure field, including 20 central enterprises and 40 other enterprises and agencies.
The IIICF exhibition, held from May 31 to June 2, focused on three major technological achievements, he said.
First, highlighting regional connectivity and displaying the achievements of the 10-year joint construction projects of the Belt and Road Initiative. Second, showcasing the green and low-carbon development technologies of clean energy, smart cities, green buildings, sewage treatment, and water conservancy. Third, demonstrating the digital innovation capabilities and levels in the fields of intelligent transportation, engineering equipment, and building materials.
Fang also noted the IIICF further promoted Chinese enterprises and institutions to participate in the joint construction of BRI and international infrastructure cooperation.
Honorable guests — including overseas ministers, leaders of relevant domestic government agencies, central enterprises and state-owned enterprises, and presidents of overseas business associations — spoke with exhibitors to understand the advantages and services of their enterprises, exploring new paths and ways of collaboration.
In just two days, the forum organized more than 40 conferences and activities, facilitated 220 business meetings, and witnessed the signing of 39 cooperation agreements. Deals covered intelligent transportation, smart residential construction, power engineering, water conservancy construction, new energy, mineral resource development, and talent fostering.
The number of agreements signed was double that of last year’s IIICF and reached a combined value of $6.7 billion.
