■ Chinese coming to Computex
Despite the political stalemate between Taiwan and China, Chinese companies are still willing to take part in this year's Computex, a spokesman for the Taipei Computer Association (台北市電腦公會) said yesterday.
The spokesman's comment came after rumors from China that Beijing authorities have tightened the rules on Chinese companies wishing to participate in this year's Computex.
Despite the rumors, the spokesman said that the Taipei Computer Association -- the organizer of the show -- has not received any information about Chinese participants cancelling trips to the show, which starts on Tuesday.
Most of the Chinese buyers would enter Taiwan at the invitation of a Taiwanese company and would arrive via a third country or area, as in the past, he said.
He said that only very few Chinese nationals would seek the associations's help for visa processing.
About 1,000 buyers from China took part in last year's Computex, and nearly 900 of whom came at the invitation of Taiwanese companies, he said.
■ Cross-strait trade surges
Trade between Taiwan and China surged to US$13.45 billion (NT$448 billion) in the first quarter of this year, an increase of 33.7 percent, the Ministry of Economic Affairs said yesterday.
The sharp rise was mainly a result of growth in China's domestic and export markets amid the global economic recovery, the ministry said in a report.
Between January and March this year, exports to China rose 28 percent to US$9.99 billion (NT$333 billion), the ministry said.
Taiwan ranked as the second-largest exporter to China after Japan, the ministry said, citing statistics released by Chinese customs.
Imports from China increased 53 percent to US$3.46 billion (NT$115 billion), the report said.
■ MUJI opens new store
The second outlet of MUJI (Taiwan) Corp (無印良品) opened at the New York New York mall in Taipei's Hsinyi district Thursday.
The Taiwanese-Japanese venture will compete head-to-head with Working House (生活工場), the nation's biggest home-furnishing chain with 140 outlets, as the new MUJI outlet is located right below the major rival's store in the mall.
MUJI Taiwan manager Tony Wang (王炳蘊) said their first outlet in the Breeze Center (微風廣場) launched early last month had generated better-than-expected revenues, including NT$2.5 million on the opening day.
The merchandise structure will be the same in the new shop, where home furnishings, kitchenware and stationary account for 50 percent, clothing 45 percent and food 5 percent, Wang said.
■ Infineon mulls chip-sector exit
Infineon Technologies AG may exit the computer memory-chip business to focus on making semiconductors for cars, mobile phones and other communications products, Silicon Strategies Web site reported, citing company executives.
The company is evaluating whether to divest itself of the memory-chip business, the Web site said, citing Infineon vice president Dominik Asam, who was speaking at an investor conference in Europe.
Infineon uses suppliers such as Nanya Technology Corp (南亞科技) and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (中芯國際集成電路) for some of its production.
■ NT dollar strengthens
The New Taiwan dollar's rise against the US dollar showed no signs of losing its momentum, with the local currency advancing NT$0.088 to close at NT$33.449 on the Taipei Foreign Exchange yesterday.
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