Chen Xianjin, deputy director general of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, offers Expo ticket samples as presents to Ms Ieong Pou Yee, Director of the Office for Preparation of Macao's Participation in the Shanghai World Expo.

Ticket sales of World Expo 2010 Shanghai China began yesterday in Macau. Local residents can buy tickets from the China Travel Service (Macau) Limited and New Sintra Tours Limited, which had been appointed as authorized Expo ticket sales agents in Macau.

The Office for Preparation of Macao's Participation in the Shanghai World Expo, the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination and the two travel agents jointly organized a sales launching ceremony yesterday.

The two agents will offer new travel routes for Expo tours before and during the Expo 2010, including some for students and for Macau people hoping to go back to their hometowns on the mainland.

Chen Xianjin, deputy director general of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, unveils a plate for New Sintra Tours Limited

Chen Xianjin, deputy director general of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, unveils a plate for the China Travel Service (Macau) Limited

Ms Ieong said that the local ticket sales are very important to Macau's preparation for Expo 2010. The Macau companies' proactive involvement in ticker sales fully presented their love to motherland and their love to Macau. The fact that two local companies became authorized agents for Expo ticket sale also showed that Macau companies are internationally competent despite Macau’s relatively small economy.

Macau will build its pavilion in Expo site and construction will start by early May. The Macau team has started to build a replica of 92-year-old Macau pawnshop for Macau's UBPA's case. The pawnship’s framework is expected to be completed within this year.

In the ceremony, Chen Xianjin, deputy director general of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, also introduced the planning of food and beverage service in Expo Site, which attracted the interests of the audience. Some companies expressed their intention of becoming a provider of such service during Expo.