Taiwan Expo 2018 kicked off Aug. 30 at Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre in Thailand as part of government efforts to strengthen business exchanges with the New Southbound Policy country.
 
Jointly organized by the Bureau of Foreign Trade under the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) and Bangkok-based Thai-Taiwan Business Association, the three-day show showcases a wide array of Taiwan goods and services at 250 booths by 210 public and private sector enterprises.
 
Themed Let’s Tie Together, the expo features products in the seven main areas of agricultural innovations, culture, good living, green technology, health care, smart city, and talent and tourism. Other highlights of the event include investment talks, matchmaking meetings and industry forums on such topics as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital commerce, and smart technologies for the machinery, medical and transportation industries.
 
Speaking at the opening ceremony, BOFT Deputy Director General Lee Guann-jyh said that Taiwan is the third largest destination for foreign direct investment among Thai enterprises. This highlights the close economic connections between the two sides and the significant potential for expanding mutually beneficial collaboration, he added.
 
Echoing Lee’s remarks, TAITRA Chairman James C. F. Huang said the show will raise the profile of Taiwan businesses throughout the region and spotlight potential-laden fields for industrial tie-ups.
 
According to the BOFT, the event is projected to draw 30,000 visitors and generate about US$100 million in business opportunities. These efforts are expected to lay the groundwork for further growth in bilateral trade volume, which increased nearly 4 percent in the first half of this year to US$5.48 billion.
 
Launched last year, Taiwan Expo is staged in several NSP countries annually to exhibit goods and services and foster business-to-business exchanges. The trade show has visited Indonesia, India and Vietnam in 2018, with its next stop set for Oct. 25-27 in Malaysia. 
 
A key plank in the government’s national development strategy, the NSP seeks to enhance Taiwan’s agricultural, business, cultural, education, tourism and trade ties with the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states, six South Asian countries, Australia and New Zealand. (KWS-E)
 
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