Trade groups to go to Australia, Middle East, US

The Ministry of Economic Affairs plans to lead a delegation in June to woo US-based companies to invest in Taiwan.

The trip was formulated after SARS (sever acute respiratory syndrome) fears prompted foreign inventors to cancel or delay travel to Taiwan, resulting in delayed investment decisions. The delegation will solicit potential business partners, Liu Kun-chun (劉坤泉), deputy director general of the ministry's Industrial Development and Investment Center said yesterday.

According to Liu, Minister of Economic Affairs Lin Yi-fu (林義夫) is expected to lead the mission and Vice Minister of Economic Affairs Yiin Chii-ming (尹啟銘) will lead another delegation to Australia and New Zealand next month.

Liu said that the government hopes to lower the impact of SARS scare on the local economy.

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) drafted plans last year to attract some 600 foreign companies to a Taiwan business conference. The event will be held Oct. 19 to Oct. 22 at the Taipei International Convention Center, Liu said.

The conference will focus on business opportunities in semiconductors, displays, optelectronics, biomedicine, recreation, entertainment and finance.

The recently concluded Taipei International Sporting Goods Show saw foreign-buyer attendance decline by 63 percent, with only 703 visitors as compared with last year's 1,887.

Three other international trade fairs are scheduled for this month. Organizers will be watching participation at the Optoeletronics Show (April 18 through April 22), the Electronics Spring Show (April 18 through April 22) and the Gift and Stationary Spring Show (April 25 through April 28).

"We've sent e-mails to exhibitors and buyers notifying that WHO believes Taiwan is not a high-risk area for SARS, unlike Hong Kong and some places in China," said Chao Yung-chuan (趙永全) secretary general of the China External Trade Development Council.

The council also said that its planning to send a trade delegation to investigate business opportunities in the Middle East from May 23 to June 6.

"Local companies are upbeat about joining the trade mission," Chao said. "Thirty-one companies have showed an interest in the event."

The mission is expected to visit Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait. Participants will include exporters of textiles, machinery, hardware and auto parts.

The council leads trade missions to the Middle East twice a year, and the delegation usually generates about US$5 million in sales, Chao said.

"This time we expect the result will be greater because the post-war demand for new products is strong," he said.