Taiwan's trade with the world continues to expand, reaching US$466 billion in 2007, or an increase of 9.2% from a year ago. Of this figure, exports grew 10.1% (US$246.7 billion), while imports rose 11% (US$219.3 billion). Exports in particular to several key target markets of TAITRA, such as India, Vietnam, Spain, Russia, Brazil, and Turkey, achieved over 10% growth.

Meanwhile, TAITRA inaugurated four new branch offices in 2006, bringing the total number of its overseas branches to 48. With the newly opened TAITRA branches in Kyiv, Chennai, Jeddah, Algiers, and Nairobi, Taiwanese traders will be able to extend their market reach into these regions. On the other hand, local enterprises can approach these new branches for assistance in doing business with Taiwan. TAITRA, along with its five liaison offices in China, provides a worldwide marketing network to meet the needs of both local and foreign traders.

In other developments, TAITRA has been selected to manage the new Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center beginning September 2007. In view of this, we have undertaken major preparations, including local and overseas marketing activities, partner management team recruitments, and transportation access arrangements. The Taipei Cycle Show is the first of 13 major international trade events for 2008 to be held at this brand new venue. And this calls for a big celebration. The 2008 Taipei Cycle Show on March 13-16 is held concurrently with the Taipei Sporting Goods Show, which opens at the TWTC Exhibition Hall. TAITRA will also host other large-scale activities, including business conventions and cultural events for the year.

Twenty-six international trade shows were held in 2007, a significant achievement for Taiwan's MICE industry. Among them, COMPUTEX continued its reign as the second largest computer show in the world, while Taipei Cycle ranked as a leader. Besides these well-established shows, TAITRA also launched four brand new trade shows: RFID Applications Show (TAIWAN RFID), Photovoltaic Forum & Exhibition (Photovoltaic Taiwan), Cultural & Creative Industries Exhibition (Creation Taiwan), and Kaohsiung Food Show, plus two TAITRONICS shows held in Thailand and India.

The number of foreign buyers at different exhibitions totaled more than 60,000. This proves that TAITRA-organized trade shows are consistent with international standards and expectations. Twenty-two international conferences, including the Taipei Summit Asia-Pacific WiMAX Conference & Exhibition, the Fourth Civil Engineering Conference in the Asian Region (4th CECAR), the XXI Congress of ISB, and the 32nd Congress of Master Tailors, were also held in the year. Over 520,000 participants were in attendance, which encourages TAITRA to recommend 10 more international conferences for the next four years. Such professional business events play a crucial role in the continued development of the MICE (Meeting, Incentive travel, Convention/Congress, Exhibition) industry in Taiwan.

On outbound trade promotion, TAITRA organized a total of 80 trade missions, leading to considerable business opportunities. As for inbound trade, TAITRA's ISC projects successfully assisted large-scale multinational firms such as Sanyo, Siemens, VDO Auto, Hyundai and Alcatel-Lucent with their procurement from Taiwan. As a result, 6,590 Taiwanese suppliers were introduced to foreign buyers.
In promoting local food and agricultural products, TAITRA added several new promotional display areas around the world. Hong Kong, Osaka, Fukuoka, and Shanghai are some of the major regions where Taiwan showcases its agricultural products. TAITRA also conducted a total of 54 food trade activities, and these include the Taiwan Food Festival, marketing and procurement seminars, promotional food fairs, participation in different trade shows, and trade missions aimed at boosting Taiwan's agricultural export.

On inward investment, TAITRA has stepped up promotional campaigns to attract more investors into the country, facilitating 176 potential investments and 66 fact-finding tours to Taiwan by foreign companies, with 21 successful cases recorded. The major investors are from the UK, the U.S.A., and Japan.

Aimed to facilitate the globalization of Taiwan’s burgeoning service sector in the fields of construction, medical and healthcare, tourism and leisure, IT, and logistics, TAITRA created a bilateral information exchange platform for construction industry players, encouraged the development in medical travel business, and attracted nearly 4,000 travelers, who came to Taiwan for trade shows, conventions and industry forums, to further explore Taiwan’s diverse cultural and natural treasures in 2007.

For 2008, TAITRA will continuously improve service offerings and launch innovative marketing strategies to create new business opportunities for Taiwan’s traders. To further develop Taiwan’s exhibition and convention industries, TAITRA will move forth with its diverse efforts to expand the large-scale show such as COMPUTEX and Taipei Cycle, and launch new exhibitions and recruit more exhibitors.

And starting March this year, our sourcing website Taiwantrade.com.tw will provide buyers with enhanced e-service and diversified user interface. SEO (search engine optimization) is strongly emphasized, making Taiwantrade an effective tool for online product and information searches. TAITRA will also actively provide integrated marketing channels to offer exhibitors twice the standard amount of services. To pave the way for the extension of services to emerging markets, TAITRA plans to set up four overseas branches in 2008, hoping such efforts will bring fruitful results for the continuous development of Taiwan's trade!