A high-powered delegation of the World Trade Center Macau attended a Macau Trade and Investment Promotion Seminar in Barcelona in June, which was organised by the Macau Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM). 
The WTCM delegation comprised Chairman of the Board Susana Chou, Executive Committee President Ant6nio Leça and Executive Director Vitor Ng. 
Mr Leça said the  WTCM delegation's presence at the seminar "was extremely useful for strengthening trade relations between Spain and Macau". 
Speaking at the seminar in Spain's business capital, Secretary for Economic Co-ordination Vitor Pessoa underlined the Territory's growing importance as a "launch pad for businesses in Asia, namely in China". 
Over 100 prominent Spanish businessmen attended the seminar. 
The seminar also included an exhibition of products made in Macau and a "contact bourse" for businessmen from Spain and Macau. 
The event was also attended by 13 companies from Macau's various manufacturing sectors, namely garments and textiles, furniture, leather goods and sports articles. 
Mr Pessoa stressed the seminar had been held in the Catalonian capital because the city was considered to be Spain's prime international business centre. 
As a direct result of the seminar, a high-powered Spanish business mission, in conjunction with the Sino~Spanish Bilateral Business Co-operation Committee, is scheduled to visit Macau later this year. 
The Sino-Spanish Bilateral Business Co-operation Committee and the Macau rrade and Investment Promotion 1 tistitute signed a co-operation agreement during the seminar. 
Mr Pessoa emphasised that the Spanish market had for Macau businessmen taken priority over other European Union markets, adding that Macau could serve as an important launch pad for Spanish businesses in China and elsewhere in Asia. 
The three-day seminar on "Macau a gateway to China"also included a special address by jo5o Domingos, President of the Macau Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, about Macau's ample business and investment opportunities. 
Following the seminar in Barcelona, the WTCM delegation took part in the Second International Convention in Lisbon on June 16 - 18.  
Apart from establishing useful contacts with businessmen and government representatives from Portuguese-language countries, the WTCM delegation was received by Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio and Economic Affairs Minister Augusto Mateus during the stay in the Portuguese capital