The Association of Southeast Asian Nations Business Day wrapped up May 30 in Taipei City, generating US$25.37 million in opportunities, according to organizer Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA).
A total of 35 buyers from Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, as well as 248 firms from Taiwan, attended the one-day event in which 332 one-on-one negotiations were carried out, TAITRA said.
TAITRA Vice President Peter W. J. Huang said it was the first time for more than 70 percent of the event’s ASEAN participants to visit Taiwan.
“ASEAN is Taiwan’s second largest export market at 19.2 percent following mainland China,” Huang said. “Its sustained economic growth is increasing demand for imports and opening doors for local firms.”
The latest “Consumer Confidence: Concerns and Spending Intentions Around the World” report by A. C. Nielsen showed that Indonesia, followed by India, the Philippines and Thailand had the highest consumer confidence index in the first quarter of 2013, he added.
“The results indicate that per capita income and spending power of consumers in ASEAN countries are on the rise,” Huang said. “We will continue our efforts in promoting Taiwan-based procurement throughout the region.”
TAITRA said noteworthy buyers include Agilent Technologies of Malaysia, Electro Scientific Industries Inc. from Singapore, merchandise distributor MK Group Co. Ltd. of Myanmar, and food firm Villa Market JP Co. Ltd. from Thailand.
MK Group had a turnover of US$150 million in 2012, making it a significant player in the region and a firm worth watching as Myanmar further opens to the world, TAITRA added.
In addition, a representative from Taiwan’s Jason Medical International Co. said the company has great faith in the Vietnam market.
“Many Vietnam buyers deem medical products made in Taiwan to be of higher quality, while pricing is not prohibitive. Taiwan’s medical supplies and machines for testing blood glucose are highly competitive in Vietnam,” the representative said.
Echoing the representative’s remarks, Huang said TAITRA will chase up all leads in the region and organize more Taiwan trade missions for September in sectors such as daily consumable medical equipment. (KML-JSM)
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