The much awaited Taiwan Expo 2019 finally opened last, Friday, November 8, at the SMX Convention Center in SM Lanang Premier, Davao City. Organized by Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Taiwan External Trade Development Council, the expo is Taiwan’s main platform for companies to explore business opportunities with the ASEAN.
“This is an event of great significance as it enables us to share the fruits of technological, industrial and cultural development of Taiwan to our Philippine friends,” said Ambassador Michael Peiyung Hsu, representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office of the Philippines.
After Indonesia, Vietnam, India and Malaysia, Davao is the last stop of this year’s Taiwan Expo roadshow. The overwhelming reception of the expo overseas has underscored Taiwan’s promotion of its “Taiwan Quality” brand to the Philippines.
“TAITRA chose your city as they have noticed great economical potential in Davao especially that it is an agricultural center of the Philippines and the home of the president. This marks a milestone between Taiwan and Davao,” Hsu added.
The expo also endeavored to present greater opportunities for the two nations to boost bilateral trade in different sectors. The Philippines is currently Taiwan’s 11th biggest trade partner. Tourism has also an impressive growth in recent years, as Taiwan granted visa-free access to Filipinos.
“The expo will provide maximum opportunity to explore ways to further expand the trade, investment, technological and cultural cooperation between Taiwan and the Philippines,” Hsu said.
Around 100 Taiwanese brands, representing various industries, such as technology, agriculture, design, medical care, education, and tourism, participated in the two-day expo.
This year, Taiwan’s state-of-the-art technology was featured through the Taiwan Excellence pavilion that showcased outstanding information and communication technology products, robotics, and smart solutions. It showcased topnotch Taiwanese brands such as Sunonwealth Electric Machine Industry Co. Ltd., Annie’s Way International Co. Ltd, GEOSAT Aerospace and Technology Inc, Medimaging Integrated Solution Inc, Xing Tai Guang Co. Ltd, Cal-Comp Technology Inc, Plustek, Dyaco International Inc, Zyxel, Kymco Philippines Inc, Transcend Information Inc., Energy Management Systems Co., Ltd,Tokuyo Biotech Co, Ltd. and ASUS.
The expo also featured nine other themed pavilions, namely the Taiwan Healthcare Pavilion, Taiwan Bubble Tea Pavilion, Taiwan Tourism Pavilion, Taiwan in Design Pavilion, Taiwan Agriculture Pavilion, Taiwan Fisheries Pavilion, COMPUTEX Taipei, TECO Energy Efficiency Solution Pavilion and Kaohsiung Goods Pavilion.