TTL, Taiyen announce China expansion

Two state-run enterprises -- Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor Corp (TTL, 台灣菸酒) and Taiyen Biotech Co (台鹽生技) -- have announced their intention to explore overseas markets, with China topping their list of desired locations, both of the companies said on Thursday.

TTL Chairman Martin Tsai (蔡木霖) said that the company's cigarettes are selling very well at five duty-free shops in China.

He added that the company aims to further expand its business this year after it won approval from the Mainland Affairs Council to set up offices in Beijing and Shanghai.

In addition, Tsai said that TTL has completed the first selection of agents for its Chinese operations and TTL will place its cigarette products for sale at an additional 152 duty-free shops at airports, harbors and other customs areas in China.

TTL also plans to begin selling its products through taxed sales channels in China, he said.

Noting that the Chinese government has capped the total volume of tobacco and liquor imports, he estimated that TTL will have a quota of around 20,000 units.

Taiyen chairman Lin Ching (林靖), for his part, announced that the firm has registered its cosmetics products in China and that these are expected to go on sale soon.

Lin said that his firm is currently in discussions with several Chinese TV shopping channels about cooperating to selling the company's products.