The volume of trade between the city and Mainland China registered a notable year-on-year increase of 30.3 per cent between January and November last year due to the strong growth in China’s exports to the city. The latest official data released by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce shows that the volume of trade between Macau and the Mainland reached US$4.38 billion (MOP35.04 billion) during the first eleven months of last year, compared to US$3.36 billion for the same period in 2014. The Mainland’s exports to the Special Administrative Region contributed 96 per cent of the total trade value between the parties, amounting to US$4.21 billion. The number represents a significant increase of 32.8 per cent from US$3.17 billion year-on-year. The city’s exports to China, however, posted a decrease of 10.8 per cent to US$170 million during the eleven months, compared to US$190 million one year prior. For last November alone, the trade value between the two parties increased 17.1 per cent year-on-year, or 12.9 per cent month-on-month to US$440 million. US$430 million of the total comprised the Mainland’s exports to Macau, jumping 18.5 per cent year-on-year, or 13.1 per cent month-on-month. In addition, the country saw exports from Macau decrease 17.2 per cent year-on-year, amounting to only some US$10 million of the total. However, the number, compared to last October, had risen 6.3 per cent. Local investment in Mainland up During the month, Mainland authorities approved 136 projects invested in by Macau firms in the country, up 491.3 per cent month-on-month. Nevertheless, the actual capital used for these projects amounted to US$10 million, dropping 91.8 per cent month-on-month. Accumulatively, a total of 465 projects invested in by local companies in the Mainland were given the green light by the Chinese authorities between January and November last year, growing 40.5 per cent year-on-year. The actual capital used for these projects also surged 64.6 per cent year-on-year to US$860 million. During the eleven months, Mainland companies contracted a total of 34 projects in the city, worth a total of US$1.61 billion. Meanwhile, these projects generated a total of US$1.14 billion. As at the end of last November, turnover of the projects granted to Mainland companies reached US$11.72 billion, whilst a total of 120,129 Chinese labourers were working in the city.
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