Q1:What is trade and investment facilitation?
A: Trade and investment facilitation, trade in goods and trade in services are the major components of CEPA. Trade and investment facilitation is an indispensable safeguard mechanism to foster the freedom of trade in goods and services between the Mainland and Macao, and also a channel to constantly explore new areas and room for further co-operation by utilising the strengths of both regions. The launch of trade and investment facilitation enables both regions to launch systematic co-operation in various areas, providing strong safeguard for longterm economic co-operation and development, thus enhancing the level and standard of trade and economic exchanges.
Q2:what are the contents of trade and investment facilitation?
A: The Mainland and Macao shall promote trade and investment facilitation through greater transparency, standard conformity and enhanced information exchange. Since the implementation of the first stage on 1 January 2004, both sides have fostered co-operation in trade and investment facilitation in 7 areas through greater transparency, standard conformity and enhanced information exchange. The protection of intellectual property rights was included in Supplement III to CEPA signed in Macao on 26 June 2006. In addition, Brand promotion was further included in Supplement V to CEPA on 30 July 2008. According to the Supplement VII to CEPA on 28 May 2010, the Mainland and Macao agreed to add cooperation in industries and cooperation on education in the area of trade and investment facilitation under “CEPA”, while the coverage of trade and investment facilitation have been increased from 9 to 10 areas as follows:
1. Trade and investment promotion
2. Customs clearance facilitation
3. Commodity inspection, inspection and quarantine of animals and plants, food safety, sanitary quarantine, certification, accreditation and standardisation management
4. Electronic business
5. Transparency in laws and regulations
6. Cooperation of small and medium-sized enterprises
7. Industrial co-operation
8. Protection of intellectual property rights
9. Brand promotion
10. Cooperation on education.
Q3:The protection of intellectual property rights is included as part of Trade and Investment Facilitation in Supplement III to CEPA, what are the contents of co-operation?
A: Specific content of co-operation on protection of intellectual property rights include: to exchange and communicate information on protection of intellectual property rights by setting up a coordination centre in Macao for the protection of intellectual property rights; to exchange information on the formulation and enforcement of laws and regulations for the protection of intellectual property rights; to share pertinent information and data through organising visits, holding seminars, publishing relevant materials as well as other means and to engage in consultations on issues concerning the protection of intellectual property rights. Supplement VI to CEPA signed on 11 May 2009 further enhances Mainland and Macao co-operation in the protection of intellectual property rights and both regions agree to implement measures to strengthen exchanges and co-operation in trademark issues.
Q4:What are the contents of Industrial Co-operation under Trade and Investment Facilitation?
A: The two sides recognise that, in accordance with the principle of complementarity with each other’s advantages, overall industrial, social and economic development will benefit from strengthening industrial co-operation and exchanges. In accordance with the text of Annex 6 of CEPA signed in October 2003 regarding Trade and Investment Facilitation, the two sides will promote co-operation on industrialisation of Chinese medicine and will consider expanding this co-operation to other industrial projects in due course. According to Supplement III to CEPA signed on 26 June 2006, the co-operation in convention and exhibition sector was included as a supplementary component of Industrial Co-operation in the Trade and Investment Facilitation under CEPA, thus provided new opportunities for co-operation and development of the sector in both regions. CEPA Supplement VII has introduced three new areas of co-operation namely in the cultural, environment and innovative technology industries to the industrial co-operation sector.
Q5:What sources are available for further enquiries on Trade and Investment Facilitation?
A: For further information on Trade and Investment Facilitation, please contact:
Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute – Information Centre
Address: 2nd Floor, World Trade Centre Building, 918 Avenida da Amizade, Macao
Tel: 853-8798 9131
Fax: 853-28-728 208, 853-28-728 102
Email: infocentre@ipim.gov.mo
For other information on CEPA, please contact:
CEPA Information Centre
Address: 3rd Floor, Luso International Bank Building, 1-3 Rua Dr. Pedro José Lobo, Macao
Enquiry Hotline: 853-8597 2343
Fax: 853-2875 5011
Email: info@cepa.gov.mo Macao Economic Services Website: www.economia.gov.mo |
