• Around 300 participants from UNESCO Creative Cities of Gastronomy - including specialists, scholars, famous chefs, and industry representatives - attended the Forum

International Gastronomy Forum, Macao 2018 a Recipe for Success

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The first highlight activity of the 2018 Macao Year of Gastronomy - 'International Gastronomy Forum, Macao 2018' - was successfully inaugurated on 18th January, with around 300 participants, including representatives of 17 UNESCO Creative Cities of Gastronomy, engaged in the theme of 'The Power of Gastronomy' delivering sustainable development.

Organized by Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), the Opening Ceremony of the Forum was officiated by the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao SAR Government, Alexis Tam, and the Deputy Director-General of UNESCO, Getachew Engida.

Tam said Macao would create a unique contribution to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) and that by placing Macao in a regional context with major national projects such as the Belt and Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area, Macao would work with its regional partners to recognize creativity and gastronomy as elements of innovative regional strategies. Getachew Engida highlighted that the Forum showcased the world's vast culinary heritage via its diversified activities, adding that the event would further foster gastronomy as a means of making cities attractive, inclusive and sustainable for all their inhabitants.

Following the Opening Ceremony, the Forum proceeded with an overview of the network and the vision ahead of UCCN and the Cities of Gastronomy by the co-ordinator of the Cities of Gastronomy Group, Dag Hartman. Subsequent sessions involved a case study sharing and discussion opportunity for higher education institutions of the Creative Cities of Östersund, Sweden, Jeonju, Korea and Macao revolving around The Relationships among Gastronomy, Creativity, Culture and Education.

A Celebrity Chefs Session invited renowned chefs from Spain, Mainland China and Macao to share their success stories and cultural inspirations. The Forum closed with a Food and Beverage Industry Leaders Face to Face, bringing together the heads of Macao's integrated resorts and associations, who brainstormed the current situation and opportunities lying ahead for the local industry.

Representatives of Creative Cities of Gastronomy gathered in Macao also joined other activities, including two internal UNESCO Creative Cities Network meeting sessions, held to welcome and integrate the new Creative Cities of Gastronomy, as well as for matching members in new partnerships and project initiatives. Other activities included a higher education institutes workshop, site inspections to IFT and Macau University of Science and Technology, along with opportunities to experience the diverse local gastronomic culture.

MGTO aims to transform the International Gastronomy Forum into a new highlight annual event in the calendar of the network, providing a valuable platform for exchange and exploration of collaboration initiatives between Macao, other Creative Cities of Gastronomy, academia and professionals in the field.

Macao became the third city in China to join UCCN in the field of Gastronomy on 31st October, 2017, after Chengdu and Shunde. UCCN covers seven creative fields: Crafts and Folk Art, Design, Film, Gastronomy, Literature, Music and Media Arts. The Creative Cities Network is currently formed by 180 members from 72 countries, including 26 Cities of Gastronomy. The UNESCO Creative Cities Network was created in 2004 to promote co-operation with and among cities that have identified creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable urban development.