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Chen opens medical equipment show

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) said yesterday that the government would work to improve the nation's medical equipment industry to enhance its international competitiveness.

Chen made the remark at the opening the 19th Taipei International Show on Medical Equipment, Pharmaceuticals & Bio-technology at the Taipei World Trade Center.

He said the medical equipment industry is growing at a rapid rate as the global population ages.

Industry research showed the total value for the global medical equipment industry is expected to reach US$201.6 billion by 2010, Chen said.

This year, total exports of Taiwanese medical equipment are expected to reach a record NT$29.5 billion (US$912 million), 10.1 percent higher than that for last year, while imports are likely to reach NT$39.4 billion this year, a rise of 5.4 percent over last year, he said.

At the end of last year, total revenues for the nation's medical equipment and pharmaceutical industries reached NT$179.1 billion, Chen said.

The medical equipment show attracted 60,000 attendants and 608 foreign buyers from 46 countries last year, Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA, 外貿協會), statistics showed.

Some 260 foreign buyers from 56 countries registered for this year's show before it opened.

TAITRA said the show should attract more foreign buyers than last year.
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