Taiwan's trade with the world reached US$496.47 billion in 2008, or an increase of 6.5% from a year ago. Of this figure, exports grew 3.6 % (US$255.65 billion), while imports rose 9.8% (US$240.82 billion). As a result, the overall trade balance (US$148.3 billion) decreased 45.9%. Since September 2008, Taiwan’s exports were in significant decline for 6 consecutive months due to the global economic recession caused by the world financial crisis. According to the customs statistics, Taiwan’s imports and exports fell 45.6% and 37.2% respectively for the first two months in 2009. As an export-driven country, Taiwan is currently facing its worst economic falling since 1971, Taiwanese entrepreneurs are thus encountering the most uncertain business environment ever as well.

In order to tackle the unprecedented challenge effectively and diversify trade opportunities for manufacturers in 2009, besides continuing to expand the European, American, and Japanese markets, TAITRA is spearheading efforts to assist Taiwanese companies in exploring trade opportunities in China. By taking the initiative to survey the markets in Nanjing and Dongguan and to promote Taiwan’s leading industries, several brand-building marketing and customized services are being generated. For example, in September 2009, TAITRA together with the Nanjing City government will co-organize a “Taiwan Outstanding Products Trade Show.” Such a show serves as a most direct approach to integrate resources from all aspects, especially Taiwan’s cultural and creative arts industry, to facilitate the development of the China Market.

Owing to Taiwan’s limited domestic market demand, search for new export markets is constantly in need for the economy. Hence, efforts are being put in 2009 to develop major emerging market regions especially in Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, South America, and Central and Eastern Europe. In addition to the promotion of the already competitive electronics, computer and communication, auto parts, machinery and photovoltaic industries, TAITRA, in support of the government policy, has selected tourism, green energy, cultural and creative arts, ecological economic agriculture, biotechnology, medical and healthcare, for enhanced industry promotion.

With the completion of TWTC Nangang Exhibition Hall, Taiwan’s overall exhibition infrastructure is near perfection. The capacity and capability of TAITRA’s Taipei Trade Shows are therefore expected to increase tremendously in years to come, which in turn will bring Taiwan enormous export and economic growth, at the same time elevating Taiwan to become an irreplaceable exhibition hub in Asia.

To promote Taiwan’s products and their global brand image, TAITRA’s major activities in 2009 encompass the Taiwan Top 20 Global Brand Evaluation & Awards, Taiwan Excellence Awards, and participation in major domestic and international activities that will assist more Taiwanese companies to develop “Taiwan Brand,” hoping they will reach Global Top 100 in 2010.

Looking back at 2008, under the direction of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and cooperative efforts of all of TAITRA’s staff, noteworthy achievements were nevertheless accomplished in many categories which are illustrated below for future improvement:

On enhancing the expansion to emphasized markets and the promotion of niche industries, TAITRA organized a total of 109 trade missions, leading to considerable business opportunities. Plus, TAITRA's International Sourcing Center (ISC) projects successfully assisted large-scale multinational firms such as Matsushita, Alcatel-Lucent, Bernhardt, Gulf Sources, Vodafone and Supercom, with their procurement from Taiwan. Therefore, 5,623 Taiwanese suppliers were introduced to foreign buyers. In addition, TAITRA incorporated comprehensive procurement meetings with 11 major trade shows in Taipei. The joint efforts allowed international buyers to meet with as many Taiwanese suppliers as possible during the short duration of a show through prescheduled meetings.

On increasing the marketing of local food and agricultural products, TAITRA managed Taiwan pavilions at 13 international food expositions, namely Gulfood, SIAL, Summer Fancy Food Show, Seoul Food & Hotel, Foods Japan, etc. TAITRA also conducted a total of 80 food trade activities, which include the Taiwan Food Festival, marketing and procurement seminars, promotional food fairs, and trade missions aimed at boosting Taiwanese agricultural products’ visibility overseas, as well as assisting Taiwanese agricultural producers in penetrating international markets.

On inward investment, TAITRA stepped up promotional campaigns to attract ever more investors into the country, facilitating 210 potential investment projects and 98 fact-finding tours to Taiwan by foreign companies, with 47 successful cases recorded. The major investors were from Japan, Hong Kong, Germany, the U.S. and the U.K.

On upgrading international trade exhibitions, twenty-eight trade shows were held in Taiwan in 2008, a significant achievement for Taiwan's MICE (Meeting, Incentive Travel, Conferences, Exhibition) industry. Moreover, TWTC Nangang Exhibition Hall, whose operation started since March 2008, successfully held 14 major trade shows in its first year. Vast show organizers and exhibitors expressed satisfaction at the upgraded facilities and professional services.

Among the trade shows, COMPUTEX continued its reign as the second largest computer show in the world, while Taipei Cycle ranked number one of its kind in Asia, and Taipei AMPA succeeded to hit all-time high for scale and number of buyers. Besides these well-established shows, TAITRA also launched two brand new trade shows--Taiwan International Robot Exhibition (Robot Taiwan), and Taiwan Broadband Show (Broad Taiwan). Plus, extending the reach of the 32-year-old Taipei TAITRONICS beyond Taiwan, TAITRA sponsored two other TAITRONICS shows in Thailand and India to help Taiwanese manufacturers in building business exchange platforms in ASEAN and South Asian regions. All in all, the number of foreign buyers at various exhibitions totaled more than 67,405. These achievements prove that TAITRA-organized trade shows are consistent with, if not exceeding international standards and expectations.

On hosting international conferences in Taiwan, fifteen international conferences, such as the Macro 2008 42nd Word Polymer Congress, the 40th Biennial Soroptimist International of the America (SIA), the 69th Skal World Congress, and the 13th International Antennas and Propagation, took place in the year, with over 560,000 participants in total. The 69th Skal World Congress was held in Taiwan for the first time. Furthermore, TAITRA successfully won the rights to host 10 more international conferences for the next three years. Such professional business events play a crucial role in the continued development and prosperity of the MICE industry in Taiwan.

On international trade education, the International Trade Institute (ITI) was established to train trade specialists who are well versed in the practices of international trade. Graduate recruitment in 2008 boasts 519 companies providing almost 1,717 job opportunities to ITI’s graduates. Each graduate had on an average 9.2 job offers. The recruitment results show that ITI remains highly regarded by job providers in Taiwan even with an unfavorable global financial outlook. In addition, to help Taiwanese companies to transform and upgrade in China, ITI held short-term courses in cooperation with the Taiwan Merchant Association in Dongguan, focusing on how to further expand the China Market. There were more than 200 attendees.

On creating export opportunities for Taiwan’s burgeoning service industry, TAITRA especially focused on the fields of environmental construction, medical and healthcare, tourism and leisure, and information technology in 2008. TAITRA formed a bilateral information exchange platform for construction industry players with overseas interests, encouraged the development in medical tourism, and attracted nearly 5,500 business travelers, who although came to Taiwan for trade shows, conventions and industry forums, were additionally led to explore Taiwan’s diverse cultural and natural treasures.

Looking into the future, TAITRA, as a multi-faceted trade promoting organization with the support of the government, will definitely strive even more rigorously to help Taiwanese manufacturers to reach their goals of marketing products to every corner of the world.

Chiairman