“I am participating in the second China International Import Expo (CIIE) as a member of the Macao entrepreneur delegation and have witnessed the booming of the import trade. I feel that the domestic market has big potential and is greatly encouraged. We will apply for booths next year to vigorously explore the domestic market,” said Chen Yaoguang, a Macao exhibitor, enthusiastically.
For Chen, the chairman of the Macau Fachau Wine Company, this visit to Shanghai for the CIIE held from November 5 to 11 has been well worthwhile. The wine products he brought to the exposition have been warmly welcomed by visitors.  

The Macao and Portuguese-speaking Countries Commodity Pavilion in Shanghai Greenland Global Commodity Trading Hub. [Photo provided by the interviewee]

With its design combining Chinese and Portuguese cultural elements such as the character image of the Republic of China period, the shape of a chicken bottle from the Chinese Song Dynasty and the Portuguese style blue and white porcelain technique, the wine products appear antique and special.

The Macau Fachau Wine products in the Macao and Portuguese-speaking Countries Commodity Pavilion. [Photo provided by the interviewee]
Having been in Macao for 15 years and long been engaged in the wine industry, Chen has a good understanding of the wine culture in Chinese mainland and Macao. 
Chen introduced that as early as the Wanli era of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), people in Macao had the custom of using chrysanthemum and rubus rosifolius to make wine. After the Chinese War of Liberation, sorghum liquor became more popular. With the reform and opening up, the exchanges between Macao and Chinese mainland have become increasingly close and the demand for traditional Chinese liquor has increased in the local alcohol market of Macau. His company is one of the few that are selling traditional Chinese sorghum liquor in Macao and its products have a unique aroma, especially suitable for the drinking habits of residents in Lingnan.

Poster of the Macau Fachau wine products. [Photo provided by the interviewee]
“In the past ten years, we have been focusing on building this brand’s quality, fragrance and packaging. The design of our products combines Chinese and Western elements, containing many cultural and historical connotations and are deeply loved by consumers."
Speaking of CIIE, Chen said, in Macao the local media have reported on it widely everyday and it has stirred heated discussion among entrepreneurs. "This time, Macao companies are under the leadership of the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Bureau and the Cultural Industry Fund Organization to participate in the exhibition. For just the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Bureau, the entrepreneur delegation has more than 100 people."
The Expo has also exerted strong influence overseas. “Especially in the currently unstable world economic environment, China holding the import expo is a great benefit to overseas products which are not selling well elsewhere. Therefore, many media overseas are reporting on the event and causing a sensation among overseas companies.”
For himself, it was after hearing that a Macao company which participated in the first CIIE had seen its Portuguese port wines exported to Chinese mainland increase six-fold in the first nine months of this year that he was significantly cheered. “We expect the same achievements to happen to us,” said Chen confidently.

Chen Yaoguang (second from right) poses for a photo with businessmen from Chinese mainland who are interested in his products in front of the booth of the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Bureau at the second CIIE. [Photo provided by the interviewee]

This is the first time that Chen has participated in the exhibition and he has strenuously promoted the cultural connotation of his products and their adherence to traditional craftsmanship and refusal to add flavouring essence and industrial alcohol in brewing to potential customers.
“Lots of supermarket chains have shown interest in our products and some businessmen even want to sign order agreements with us. There’s no doubt that the market is huge,” said Chen. However, he also frankly expressed the difficulties he has met along with other Macao entrepreneurs, “some documents that are required by Chinese mainland can’t be provided by the Macao side and although the customs clearance procedure is becoming simplified, the process is still a little bit slow.” Chen hopes that his products, which are currently only sold in Macao, can be sold at a large scale to Chinese mainland through the platform of CIIE and by grasping the development opportunity of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.