The Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) has become a Marketing Committee member of the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI), according to TAITRA Feb. 28.
Membership on the committee means that Taiwan will have a greater role in promoting international trade fairs in the future, according to TAITRA Executive Vice President Walter M.S. Yeh.
“In addition, Taiwan will be able to make the many strengths of our local industries better known to exhibitors worldwide,” Yeh said. “We will also be in a better position to attract foreign buyers to come to our island.”
TAITRA, a semiofficial agency responsible for holding annual trade fairs and organizing overseas business promotion tours, is only the second organization in Asia to join the UFI Marketing Committee, after Thailand’s Impact Exhibition Management Co. Ltd.
“Taiwan was able to become a committee member in part because of improved relations with mainland China,” said Yeh, adding that the mainland has a major presence in the exhibition industry market.
“An increasing reliance by UFI on technology and environmentally friendly materials of the kind used in TAITRA exhibitions was another critical factor,” he added.
Yeh said the council will continue developing its technological applications to serve participants in upcoming events such as Taipei International Cycle Show, the biggest bicycle industry trade scene in Asia, and the Computex Taipei.
UFI is an association of trade show organizers, fairground owners, national and international associations of the exhibition industry and its partners. As of 2011, it had more than 586 members from 85 countries and territories. (HZW)
Write to Aaron Hsu at pj1210meister@mail.gio.gov.tw