Representatives at the 4th "Greater China Arbitration Forum".

   The Fourth "Greater China Arbitration Forum" Conference, organized by the Arbitration Center of the World Trade Center Macau (WTCM), was successfully held on September 15-16 at the Lotus Room on the 5th floor of the WTCM Building. This biennial forum is to be hosted by each member organization in turns. The previous three conferences were held in the mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan respectively. This year, Macau's Secretary for Administration and Justice, Florinda Chan was invited to officiate at the opening ceremony of the conference.

The WTCM's Arbitration Center is one of the founding members of the "Greater China Arbitration Forum". President of the General Council of WTC Macau Arbitration Center Mr Vitor Ng pointed out that, "the development of arbitration system in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, has surpassed Macau by means of theory, promotion and operation." The organization of the 4th Greater China Arbitration Forum provides a good opportunity for Macau practitioners to share the experience and the latest development of the arbitration and mediation systems in the Greater China Region.

More than 120 people attended the forum, among which over 50 delegates and experts from arbitration and conciliation organizations of China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Alberto Marçal (left) and Vong Kok Seng.

    President of the Executive Committee of the WTC Macau Mr Alberto Marcal attended the World ATA Carnet Council (WATAC) meeting on June 8-10, 2011 in Mexico City. The meetings i part of the programme of the Seven World Chamber Congress.

The ATA Carnet is an international customs document - a passport for goods - which waives duty and tax for temporary export-import of the following three main categories of goods traded worldwide: commercial samples, professional equipment and goods for trade fairs and exhibitions. ATA Carnets are offered by chambers of commerce and similar business organisations to traders, sales professionals, exhibitors and other international business travellers. WTC Macau is the only official body in Macau responsible for the issuing of ATA carnets.

During the meeting, experts and chamber representatives exchanged views and made a summary report on their own countries/regions' implementation of the ATA carnet system. More than 70 countries and regions have joined the ATA carnet system.

The delegation poses for a photo.

   A delegation of seven members from the Arbitration Center of the World Trade Center Macau (WTCM), the University of Macau and the Law Reform and International Law Bureau (DSRJDI) of the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR) paid a four-day visit to Singapore from March 23-26. Organised by the SDRJDI, members of the delegation included President of the General Council of WTCM's Arbitration Center Vitor Ng, member of the General Council of WTCM's Arbitration Center and MSAR legislator Tsui Wai Kwan, Vice President of the General Council of WTCM's Arbitration Center Alberto Expedito Marçal, and Director of the SDRJDI Chu Lam Lam.

The visit aims to establish effective communication and cooperation between the mediation institutes and departments of Singapore and the MSAR, as well as to share their experience and knowledge with each other. It is also hoped that the visit could enable the delegation to understand more about the set up of mediation services of Singapore and their operations, organisational structure, staff recruitment and training. The delegation visited various facilities such as the case registration rooms and interviewing rooms of the preliminary dispute mediation centre and community mediation centre of Singapore's subordinate court. They also attended an introduction to Singapore's mediation system at the Maxwell Chamber of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre presented by the deputy director of the centre Sabiha Shiraz.

Through a range of seminars, visits and briefings, the delegation gained more knowledge in depth on the operations and process of the mediation institutes and departments in Singapore. At the same time, we have built friendship and connections as the foundation for our future cooperation. At the end of the visit, a cooperation agreement was signed between WTCM's Arbitration Center and the mediation centre in Singapore.

    WTCA Business Development Executive of Asia Scott Wang paid an official visit to WTC Macau on 22 July 2011. Mr Wang was warmly received by the WTCM President Alberto Marcal. As WTCA's business development executive in Asia region, Mr Wang will help formulatinge WTCA's strategic plans and develop business relations in Asia, with an initial focus on China. During the visit, Mr Wang toured the WTCM premises.

Mr Marcal expressed his willingness to further assist and strengthen cooperation in the future with WTCA and all sister countries.