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Computex kicks out two `imposters' from China

The organizers of Computex Taipei 2005 yesterday closed four exhibition booths operated by two Chinese companies which gained access to the trade show by using the names of two local companies.

The two Taiwanese companies, Computer Information Corp (彥翔電腦資訊) and Wtx Taiwan Co (民雄國際), apparently allowed the Chinese firms Dongguan Golden Field Industrial Co (東莞金河田) and Comat Electronics Group (嘉晶電子) to use their booth space, according to a statement released by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA, 外貿協會), co-organizer of the world's second-largest computer show.

According to TAITRA, companies which have been granted space at the show are not permitted to allow others to use their booths.

The two local companies were banned from participating in Computex as exhibitors for the next two years, and more than 10 people from the Chinese companies were required by the Ministry of Interior to leave Taiwan yesterday, because they had applied to enter the country as visitors to the show, not exhibitors, the statement said.

"We hope local exhibitors will comply with the rules, and urge Chinese companies to apply for booth space just like other foreign companies," said Frank Chen (陳建坤), a division director at TAITRA's exhibition department.

Since Computex is an international trade show, Chinese companies are allowed to participate as foreign exhibitors, Chen said.

Of the seven Chinese firms that applied to exhibit their wares at this year's show, only Beijing Xinquansheng Industry and Trade Co (北京市鑫全盛工貿有限公司) received permission, Chen said.

With exhibition space being limited, foreign companies that intend to showcase their products at Computex need to compete with each other to secure a place among the 350 booths reserved for overseas exhibitors every year, Chen said.

Veteran Computex exhibitors with no record of breaking the rules and applicants that are renowned or important in the industry get the first say over booths, and the rest go to companies with considerable capital and revenue, he said.

The fierce competition for booths may be the reason why the Chinese companies made deals with local enterprises, which have easier access to the show, said Sakura Yang (楊櫻姿), project manager of the Taipei Computer Association (台北市電腦公會), co-organizer of Computex.

Some Chinese companies even apply to attend the show by using the names of their operations in Hong Kong or abroad, Yang said.

Although Chinese companies have shown increasing interest in exhibiting at Computex over the past few years, Yang said the organizers stick to their policy of reserving space for local companies and preferred overseas exhibitors because of the limited space available in the Taipei World Trade Center and Taipei International Convention Center.

"Even if we shift the exhibition venue to a larger place, we will first provide more space for a large number of local companies that want to join the show," Yang said.

A likely new venue for the trade show is the larger Taipei Nankang Exhibition Center, which is expected to completed by 2007.
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